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GOVERNOR SPITZER ANNOUNCES OVER $1 MILLION IN CHILD CARE GRANTS
Funding to Help Start, Expand and Improve Child Care Facilities across the State

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced child care facilities across New York will receive over $1 million from the Child Care Block Grant. The child care grants will be used to launch and expand school-age child care programs and day care centers, creating 268 new child care slots. The funds will be distributed through the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to 49 qualified child care organizations which will use the grants for capital improvements to start, expand, and improve the safety of child care programs.

“Child care is a vital component in the early learning system to prepare children for lifelong learning,” said Governor Spitzer. “Working to provide all of our children with high-quality, stimulating child care is essential so that our next generation of New Yorkers can grow and prosper. This funding will ensure that many child care programs are safe, healthy and productive. When we invest in our child care programs, we help to improve their learning environments, and we also ensure economic security for hard-working New York families.”

Senator Carl Kruger, Chair of the Social Services, Children and Families Committee said: “Safe, affordable and reliable child care has always been a foremost concern for working parents struggling to make ends meet in our city and state. I am gratified that the federal government has recognized the urgent need to launch and expand school-age child care programs and day care centers with this grant, thereby increasing the options for working parents who previously encountered dead ends in locating child care they could both trust and afford.”

Assemblymember William Scarborough, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, said: “Quality child care is one of the most important investments that can be made to help families. Parents can stay active in the workforce while children develop the solid foundation they need to achieve in school. An investment in quality child care is a contribution to the economic self-sufficiency of working families that will benefit children, their parents and New York State.”

Gladys Carrión, Commissioner of OCFS, said: “It is crucial that parents and caregivers have access to safe, reliable child care. These grants will help provide safer and healthier environments in which children across New York State can learn and grow.”

Carol Saginaw, Executive Director of the NYS Child Care Coordinating Council, said: “Health and safety is the foundation upon which all other quality of life is built. We applaud the Governor for making these critical funds available to child care programs across the state.”

Nancy Kolben, Executive Director of Child Care, Inc., said: “New York State is making an important investment in expanding access to quality environments for our youngest learners. As a child care resource and referral agency serving the five boroughs of New York City, we know how valuable quality early learning opportunities are for our youngest children and their families.”

A list of the grants can be found here.