On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced a partnership with three counties as part of a $4.5 billion investment to deliver statewide universal child care.
Dutchess County, Monroe County, and Broome County are the three counties participating in this new pilot program, which aims to provide additional child care options. According to the announcement, the program includes a total of $60 million in New York State funding, along with new investments from each of the three counties, to expand child care access with a focus on serving children aged 0 to 3 years.
Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding universal childcare is exactly the kind of leadership working families need right now. By including Broome County in this new upstate pilot, the Governor is helping make life more affordable for parents who just want to go to work, provide for their families, and know their kids are safe and cared for. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, Broome County will also be opening the largest childcare center in our county this fall, expanding access for hundreds of local families. This investment will help even more working families across Broome County get the affordable, high-quality childcare they need to thrive. – Broome County Executive Jason Garnar …