BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York State is allocating more $135,000 to various childhood education centers to extend partnerships at the local and state level.
"If we can bring the business community, the child care community, and the parent voice together, there will be more opportunities for localities to assess what their child care needs are and to identify barriers that families need when facing child care and education," Executive Director of Council on Children and Families Renee Rider told reporters. "It will help identify the supports needed to make quality early care and education accessible to all children in their regions from birth through 5."
The statewide announcement was made in Buffalo at the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood Children's Academy on Bailey Avenue. Ten different regional economic development councils will receive the $135,000 funding.
"This is the seed money to get it started," Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. "Right now, all across the State of New York...we are now saying that when a business comes before us and has a plan and they want to expand or put in a new facility or have capital improvements. We're going to ask them for their child care plan as well because we're going to assume they're going to hire people who have families and have these needs."
Hochul said the state will ask companies seeking tax breaks to provide a plan for employees to receive child care.
