State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday the expansion of child care services at 11 SUNY community colleges, including Jamestown Community College, to include evenings and weekends to better align with the schedules of student parents enrolled in high-demand programs, including SUNY Reconnect courses, or to create additional spots for infants and toddlers.

The announcement quickly follows the successful extension of programs at Dutchess Community College and Monroe Community College, which generated a strong immediate reaction from campuses across the state.

Jamestown Community College is one of six SUNY community college campuses creating additional spots for infants and toddlers.

“We are investing in the futures of our adult learners and student parents to ensure they can pursue and achieve their dreams,” Hochul said. “Through the expansion of child care across SUNY’s community college campuses, the SUNY Reconnect program and dedicated support initiatives, we are reinforcing our commitment to meeting the needs of adult learners and offering them a path to upward mobility.”

The expansion of child care hours at the community colleges or their community partners will support adult learners enrolled in Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative, which provides free tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don’t already have a college degree and want to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field. The program also builds on Governor Hochul’s State of the State priority to continue to deliver accessible, reliable child care options to families across New York State.

The program to extend child care services to 11 SUNY community colleges builds on Hochul’s efforts to increase access to high-quality child care, especially for SUNY adult learners. Recently, SUNY announced the expansion of child care services at Dutchess Community College and Monroe Community College, with both colleges extending their child care services to include evenings to align with the schedules of high-demand programs.

In 2022, Governor Hochul announced $10.8 million in funding to address child care deserts across SUNY campuses, fund improvements, and expand capacity. As part of the $10.8 million investment, SUNY announced in 2024 the opening of a child care center at Jamestown Community College, which offered nearly 50 spots during the school year and 100 throughout the summer months for students’ children. In 2023, Hochul also announced the availability of 200 spots at 12 high-demand SUNY campus child care centers, made possible through $1.72 million in funding for improvements to child care at SUNY.