With countless child care centers encountering financial challenges as a result of the ongoing public health emergency, three Assembly Democrats sponsor a bill that would provide support to the child care industry.
Subject to the availability of federal funds, $10 million in funds that New Jersey was given access to because of the COVID-19 pandemic would be made available to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support child care centers in need of assistance due to the public health emergency.
Upon the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee advancing the bill (A-5445) on Monday, Assembly sponsors Lisa Swain (D-Bergen, Passaic), Gabriela Mosquera (D-Camden, Gloucester) and Adam Taliaferro (D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem) issued the following joint statement:
“So many child care centers have already closed while many others are struggling to stay in business because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Necessary yet expensive safety measures such as reduced class sizes, personal protective equipment purchases and building ventilation upgrades have taken a significant toll on the child care industry.
“Over the past year, women in particular have borne the brunt of the consequences of a lack of access to child care services. The parents in our state both require and deserve affordable, accessible child care. Providing financial support to child care centers in need will help ensure these critical services are available to them.”