Broome County will be opening its “largest” childcare facility at Oakdale Commons this winter and County Executive Jason Garnar has announced open enrollment for KinderCare.
In February, Garnar said construction crews would be breaking ground in March. The new facility will expand access for 214 children throughout the Southern Tier once complete. Half of those slots will strictly be reserved for children ranging from infants to 3 years old.
This new facility will help families stay active in the workforce and address the gap in childcare for children under the age of 4.
“The new center will provide high-quality, reliable child care for families throughout Broome County, helping meet a critical need for accessible early childhood education in the community,” Garnar’s office stated in a release.
Broome County KinderCare will offer programs for children as young as 6 weeks old up to prekindergarten. The facility will be staffed by qualified teachers in an engaging environment that caters to social, emotional and academic development.
While the BC KinderCare facility is not open yet, enrollment is now being accepted, the county said. Families interested in enrollment should visit kindercare.com/broomecounty for more information, or call 833-905-3276.
Broome County is one of just three upstate counties selected for a pilot program boosting universal childcare in New York state. Broome County was awarded $20 million from the state to “scale up” its childcare services. The pilot partnerships are part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $4.5 billion investment to eventually install universal childcare for New Yorkers across the state.
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at KCGrant@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Broome County opens enrollment for Oakdale KinderCare. How to sign up
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
