Child care access for families with infants and toddlers could soon expand in Broome County under a new state pilot program announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Hochul visited the B.C. Center on the SUNY Broome campus to highlight a proposed partnership with Broome, Dutchess, and Monroe counties aimed at expanding child care for children ages zero to three. The pilot is part of the governor’s $4.5 billion plan to deliver universal child care statewide.
The pilot includes $60 million in state funding, along with new investments from each participating county. The goal is to help counties grow child care options while easing costs for families.
“Making New York the best place to raise a family begins with fulfilling my promise to deliver universal child care for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said. She said the B.C. Center shows how the pilot can support families while helping students continue their education.
The B.C. Center is a licensed child care program located on the SUNY Broome campus. It serves SUNY Broome students, including those in the SUNY Reconnect program, along with staff and members of the surrounding community.
The center provides early learning through play-based and hands-on activities. It also works closely with families and encourages regular communication between home and school.
Hochul met with SUNY Reconnect students whose children are enrolled at the center. SUNY Reconnect offers free associate degrees to New Yorkers ages 25 to 55 with no college degree, covering tuition, fees, books, and supplies in high-demand fields.
Broome County Executive Jason T. Garnar said affordable child care remains one of the biggest challenges for working families. He said the pilot partnership will help parents balance careers and raising children while expanding access to high-quality care in the county.
The pilot program is one part of a broader child care agenda. Hochul is also pushing to achieve universal Pre-K for four-year-olds statewide by the 2028–2029 school year, expand access to child care subsidies, and launch free child care for two-year-olds in New York City.
State officials say these investments are designed to save families billions of dollars each year while helping more parents stay in the workforce.
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