NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping new investment Thursday aimed at putting New York on a path toward universal child care, unveiling $110 million in capital funding to open hundreds of new child care centers statewide.

Speaking at the Flatbush YMCA in Brooklyn, Hochul said the initiative marks the next major step in a multi-year plan to ensure that every family in New York has access to affordable care for children under age 5, regardless of income.

“This is about turning years of groundwork into a real roadmap,” Hochul said. “Every child deserves the same opportunity, and no working parent should have to sacrifice a paycheck or a career just so their child can grow and thrive.”

Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul Make a Policy Announcement
https://t.co/4fCeeQL1LO
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 8, 2026

As part of the effort, the state will partner with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to launch free child care for two-year-olds in the city and expand the existing 3K program toward universal access. Hochul said the state will fully fund the initiative and commit to multi-year financing to ensure its long-term stability.

State officials said the broader plan includes a major expansion of the Child Care Assistance Program, additional investments in the child care workforce and new funding to build and upgrade facilities across the state. Hochul said New York has already increased child care spending to more than $8 billion, more than tripling the level when she took office four years ago.

The governor framed the initiative as both an economic and family policy, noting that high child care costs often force parents — especially women — out of the workforce.

“Affordable child care changes everything,” Hochul said. “When parents can trust that their children are safe and cared for, they can work, grow businesses and build a future.”

The plan also includes new investments to expand universal prekindergarten statewide by 2028 and a pilot program for community-based day care centers serving infants and toddlers in underserved areas.

Hochul said the goal is to make New York a national leader in family support policies, calling child care access “one of the most important issues facing working families today.”

Jooish News

Jooish News