Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a number of initiatives dedicated to making child care programs more affordable across the state of New York.  

Starting in the 2024 fiscal year, parents will be able to get help from their employers to pay for child care. The employer-sponsored pilot program would split the costs of child care with participating employers, the state, and their employees if parents meet the income requirement.  

The state is also upping their efforts to retain staff at child care programs through the new Workforce Retention Grant Program. The $500 million grant will allow eligible child care programs to recruit staff and offer sign-on bonuses.  

A new employer child care tax credit will also be available to businesses that create new child care seats for workers. Gov. Hochul says as a mother herself, she knows the strain of not having affordable and accessible child care, and hopes to remove that problem for millions of New York families.  

Applications for the Workforce Retention Grant Program open on July 13. Click here for more info.