$750K boost for Broome County Urban League: Here's how it will boost childcare

Emily Barnes, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
·2 min read

Hundreds of new affordable childcare spots will soon be available through the Broome County Urban League, thanks to $750,000 in federal funding that was announced Friday inside a future site of the organization's new childcare centers.

The Broome County Childcare Expansion program will help renovate the Urban League's facilities, including the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church Community Center at 54 Baxter St. in Binghamton, and strengthen the organization's programming, creating up to 475 new slots for daycare, toddler and afterschool childcare.

"With the potential of providing up to 475 children with certified and educational childcare programming, the Urban League is proud to be taking the steps in the right direction alongside such strong community partners to address one of our largest barriers to access and ascension within the workforce: childcare," said Jennifer Lesko, president and CEO of the Urban League.

According to the Leadership Alliance, two-thirds of Broome and Tioga Counties' childcare programs have been shut down in the past 10 years and Broome County can only provide childcare for fewer than 5,000 children.

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The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church Community Center at 54 Baxter St. in Binghamton is part of the Broome County Urban League's childcare expansion plan.
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church Community Center at 54 Baxter St. in Binghamton is part of the Broome County Urban League's childcare expansion plan.

What the funding will go toward

Part of the funding will cover the costs of capital improvements, expanding the Urban League's Binghamton operations to 250-300 spots year-round, and to start up a new childcare location in Johnson City with at least 175 additional spots. The funding will also allow the Urban League to provide childcare during non-traditional hours.

A new childcare workforce training model will also be funded to ensure the additional childcare spots can be supported with enough certified childcare professionals.

Tuition assistance, emergency housing and housing assistance will also be made available through this funding.

"Investing in Broome County's children and families is investing in the future of the Southern Tier,"  U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "Affordable childcare is essential for a region's economy to grow. It strengthens the workforce, lets people go back to school and is vital to maintaining a high quality of life."

The Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families are providing $600,000 and the remaining $150,000 will come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Fund.

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Broome County childcare gets boost with $750K for Urban League