The NYS Office of Children and Family Services is offering a grant opportunity to help providers open new child care programs in their region. Funding from the Invest in New York Child Care Deserts Grant program will be available to newly licensed, registered or permitted child care programs in NY’s child care deserts -areas that lack sufficient licensed and registered child care slots to serve the children who live there.
The grants will support new child care providers in creating their child care program and in recruiting, retaining, and training staff to meet workforce demands. Grant recipients can also use the funding to support start-up expenses, personnel costs, general child care business expenses, and staff expenses in accessing COVID-19 vaccines
The application for the grant will be open on April 11, 2022 until May 19, 2022. Check the OCFS website for more information closer to April.
Requirements: All applicants must complete the OCFS online orientation before applying for the grant. Visit the OCFS website for more information. Programs applying to become a NYC DOHMH Article 47 day care center must attend a pre-permit orientation before applying for a new permit.
Information sessions: Applicants can attend an information session to learn more about the grant, available funding and the process of opening a child care program. Information sessions are region specific. Download the information session schedule.
For more information, download the flyer –English or Spanish/Español.
Questions? Call the Child Care Deserts Help Line: 844-863-9320
