Child Care Grant Programs

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On May 31, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $500 million investment in the FY 2024 budget to bolster New York’s child care workforce through the Workforce Retention Grant Program. Funding from the program will support up to 150,000 child care workers with bonus payments ranging from $2,300 to $3,000 to staff in caregiving roles, as well as funding to support child care programs’ efforts to recruit new staff, offer sign-on and referral bonuses, and more.

The Workforce Retention Grant program is for eligible New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) licensed/registered school-age child care programs (SACC), day care centers (DCC), family day care homes (FDC), and group family day care homes (GFDC), small day care centers (SDCC) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) permitted Article 47 group day care centers (GDC).

Child Care Stabilization Grant

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has awarded $900 million to 15,000 eligible child care providers through the Child Care Stabilization Grant. The first Child Care Stabilization grant (also known as Stabilization 1.0) was released on August 3, 2021 and $1.074 billion was made available to eligible child care providers. Applications were closed for the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 on November 30, 2021.

Based on the success of the Child Care Stabilization 1.0 grants, OCFS distributed another round of funds with the Stabilization 2.0 for Workforce Supports grant to child care providers to strengthen their infrastructure and support their workforce. OCFS has awarded $208 million to 12,578 child care providers through the Stabilization 2.0 for Workforce Supports grant. The second child care stabilization grant was released on July 5, 2022. Applications were closed for the Child Care Stabilization 2.0 for Workforce Supports on December 14, 2022

Invest in NY – Child Care Deserts Grant for New Providers

New York State identified $100M to build and expand child care capacity in areas with the least supply. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), child care desert funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy, by addressing the issues that impact businesses including chronic absence, productivity reductions and turnover due to inadequate options for quality child care in the most needed parts of the state.

Invest in NY – Child Care Deserts Grant for Existing Providers

New York State identified $100M to build and expand child care capacity in areas with the least supply, with $30M available to existing programs expanding capacity under their current license. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), child care desert funding represents an unprecedented opportunity and investment to build capacity and strengthen the state’s economy, by addressing the issues that impact businesses including chronic absence, productivity reductions and turnover due to inadequate options for quality child care in the most needed parts of the state.

This program is for Existing child care providers seeks to expand the capacity and/or types of care currently available within licensed programs.

Grant for Retroactive Absences

The 2022 Enacted Budget authorized the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to issue payments for absences to child care providers that served at least one child in receipt of child care assistance for care provided on or after April 1, 2020, and prior to December 1, 2021. This is a one-time grant opportunity for licensed, registered, and enrolled legally exempt providers who are currently open and in good standing.

Essential Worker Scholarship

OCFS is administering $25 million in funds to provide child care support for children of essential workers. The Essential Worker Scholarship is only available to residents of New York State and will be awarded weekly through payments made directly to child care providers on the parents’ behalf. Parents will be responsible for paying any tuition amount that is greater than the market rate.

This is the first in a series of new investments to support the child care industry and working families as provided for by the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act.

Prior Funding Opportunities

Information on the CARES 2 and CARES 3 programs.

Data on NYS Child Care Grants

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Data on NYS Child Care Grants