New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a pilot program to expand child care in Monroe, Dutchess, and Broome counties, as part of the state’s $4.5 billion universal child care initiative. The pilot program provides $60 million in funding to increase child care options, especially for children ages 0-3, and is intended to support families across all income levels, as per the Governor's Office release.
In addition, Hochul recently opened The Irene Skalny Childcare Center in Penfield, a YMCA facility funded with more than $1.5 million in state support. The center serves children from 6 weeks to 5 years old and is located near the Eastside Family YMCA.
The Governor’s Office also announced plans to implement Truly Universal Pre-K by the 2028-2029 school year, which would provide Pre-K access to all 4-year-olds in New York. Child care subsidies have been increased, now supporting 2.5 times more children than when Hochul first took office, raising total funding to over $3 billion. The initiative also includes efforts to strengthen the child care workforce.
Separately, the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative was highlighted, with $300 million allocated for economic development and urban improvements aimed at lowering costs for working families and supporting children’s success.
These programs are part of New York State’s broader efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education.
