September 25th, 2023
Funding will help launch new childcare businesses and support existing ones
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello today announced a $300,000 investment to support Rochester Childfirst Network’s program to develop new in-home childcare businesses and support existing in-home daycares. The funding is being provided by the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA).
The program will work with new childcare providers who want to launch an in-home childcare business, or existing providers who want to open a second location. The program will provide grants of up to $20,000 to these entrepreneurs to cover licensing and legal fees and other startup costs. RCN’s goal is to help 10 new sites launch in 2024.
In addition, the program will provide grants of up to $2,000 for existing daycares to cover documented, eligible expenses.
“For many of our working families, child care can be both an economic necessity and a barrier to advancement and greater opportunity,” said County Executive Bello. “This program will help expand the number childcare offerings in our community, while also helping entrepreneurs – primarily women of color – to launch and sustain new businesses.”
Families in poverty often live in childcare deserts, defined as areas where there are more than 3 young children for available childcare slot. These families cannot access childcare due to cost, transportation, and other factors.
In-home providers serve families with flexible schedules, neighborhood locations. Language and cultural preferences and quality care at affordable costs. The RCN programs supports over 180 small childcare businesses in the greater Rochester area, almost all of which are owned and operated by women of color. These operations serve more than 2,000 children.
“Childcare in Monroe County is still emerging from the effects of the pandemic,” said Ann Marie Stephan, Executive Director of RCN. “From 2020 to 2022, more than 70 sites in the County closed their doors, permanently. We appreciate the support of COMIDA and other funders as we re-build the childcare infrastructure for working parents. This grant will ensure that employees can go to work every day, knowing that their children are safe, happy and loved, at in-home centers throughout Monroe County.”
