BUFFALO, N.Y. — For some parents, getting their kids into an affordable daycare can feel like winning the lottery these days.
There is a shortage of child care workers, which cuts down the number of available spots and can increase the cost.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced $100 million to try and make more spots available, and quickly. Half of the funding will go toward building new or expanded child care centers. The other half will fund tax credits to incentivize businesses to offer their own child care, or through a third-party.
The governor made the announcement at one of those on-site daycare centers in Albany.
"When you see children here, that means the parents are able to be at work, and many of the people that work here work for the Department of Labor," Hochul said. "And so this gives people the opportunity that is denied at so many other places, and I am proud that we have this in the State of New York, but I also want to make sure this is expanded."
New or expanded child care centers that receive a grant must be ready to go six months after construction.