Governor Hochul Announces Success of Child Care Stabilization Grant Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State’s success in awarding $900 million in Child Care Stabilization Grants to child care programs statewide. The grants are part of a $2.3 billion package of investments in New York State’s child care industry funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) awarded funding to nearly 15,000 eligible child care providers over four months, from August through November.

“Child care is the backbone of our economy, and this transformative investment is critical to building our economic recovery,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding is a lifeline to providers and helps ensure New Yorkers have access to quality child care across the state. I am proud of our success in getting these funds out the door to the essential workers who care for our youngest.”

The funds are being administered by OCFS to cover the costs of personnel, rent or mortgage, utilities, facility maintenance or improvements, personal protective equipment, supplies needed to respond to COVID-19, goods and services needed to maintain or resume child care services, mental health supports for children and employees, health and safety training for staff, and more.

OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, “I commend Governor Hochul for her commitment to investing in child care and supporting an industry that supports all other businesses. This is a long overdue recognition of the foundational role child care plays in our economy. I look forward to our continued efforts to reopen, rebuild and revitalize child care in New York State to support every working family who relies upon it.”

Congressman Adriano Espaillat said, “Childcare is essential to the health, well-being, and recovery of families in my congressional district and across New York State. I commend Governor Hochul on today’s announcement to support child care providers through this recent grant investment which was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. These resources ensure that providers can serve more children and families across our state.”

Congressman Joe Morelle said, “This pandemic has left too many families struggling and we have a duty to provide them with the support and relief they need. Proud to have delivered this funding to ensure quality childcare options so New Yorkers can return to the workforce—because greater access to affordable family care improves economic outcomes for all.”

Congressman Jamaal Bowman said, “Our children must be centered in all of the work that we do and the Child Care Stabilization Grants are critical to the wellbeing of our children and those who care for them. I am proud to have worked tirelessly in Congress to get the American Rescue Plan, an instrumental source of funding for these grants, passed and signed into law so that our children and their caregivers are taken care of. These funds will provide mental health support to children and employees, health and safety training for staff, and will help cover the costs of facility rent, mortgage, maintenance, and improvements. We cannot ignore that our children are suffering because of this pandemic and are in need of resources. These grants are a critical first step, and in Congress I am fighting for another COVID-19 package that centers our children and secures their future.”

OCFS is grateful to its partners across New York State who assisted child care providers in applying for the grants, including OCFS-organized application assistance for providers statewide through Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, the Civil Service Employees Association, United Federation of Teachers, and Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation. The Early Care and Learning Council was contracted to help coordinate this vital assistance statewide.

Child care providers in the 10 regions of New York State were awarded the following amounts in Stabilization Grant funding: