The state has unveiled two new initiatives totaling a combined $100 million in funding designed to increase child care supply for New York families. The announcement includes $50 million in capital funding to provide grants for the construction of new childcare centers and registered school-age childcare programs or the expansion of existing centers. An additional $50 million in business tax credits will be available for eligible businesses that create or expand infant and toddler child care seats for their employees directly or through a third party.
The Child Care Capital Program (CCCP) will award grants ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million to eligible childcare providers to expand existing childcare centers or build new ones. The program will be overseen by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). Funding will be split 60 percent for the downstate region (which includes New York City; Long Island; and Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties) and 40 percent for the rest of the state.
The CCCP will provide reimbursement grants for the design, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, equipment and other capital assets for existing or proposed state-licensed, not-for-profit or for-profit child day care centers and registered school-age child care programs. The facility must be intended to be used as a childcare program for at least eight years. Projects must be shovel-ready, demonstrate the ability to be licensed and fully operational within six months of completing construction and be worth at least $500,000.
To apply for CCCP grant, applicants must first prequalify through New York State Grants Gateway. Final applications will be accepted through March 31, 2024. Awards will be announced on or after July 15, 2024.
New York State is also making $25 million available for the Child Care Creation and Expansion Tax Credit each year for two years – $50 million in total – to be administered through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).
Under the new tax credit program, businesses with a location in New York State that provide new licensed or registered child day care seats for the infants or toddlers of their employees, either directly or through a third-party, can apply for the credit. To be eligible, they must also limit costs to their employees for childcare expenses.
The application to receive tax credits for childcare seats created in 2023 opens January 1, 2024, and closes January 31, 2024.
