Dutchess County among three selected for state childcare pilot

Dutchess County is one of three counties selected to receive significant state funding as part of a new childcare pilot program announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week — an initiative that could expand childcare options in rural communities like Millerton.

The announcement follows Hochul’s State of the State address in which she proposed a landmark $4.5 billion investment toward universal childcare in New York. Hochul visited a childcare center in Queens on Thursday, Jan. 15, to outline her vision for the rollout of the pilot program, which would include a total of $60 million in state funding, along with additional funding from each of the three counties — Dutchess, Monroe and Broome — with a particular focus on serving newborns to three-year-olds.

“When we invest in our kids, we’re investing not just in their future, but the future of our state,” Hochul said. She called her plan aggressive, bold and ambitious with a focus on access and cost.

While the proposal must still be approved by the State Legislature as part of the 2026 budget process, Dutchess County’s Department of Community and Family Services is expected to work with the state on developing ideas to address Dutchess-specific needs. The state budget is due April 1.

Filling a local gap

The pilot would support community-based programming, a move that could fill the gap left in Millerton by the recent abrupt closure of North East Community Center’s Early Learning Program (ELP).

NECC officially closed the program on Dec. 19, 2025, after determining that the financial burden of operating a daycare had become unsustainable. The decision followed months of quiet internal deliberation and came as a shock to families and staff. NECC leadership cited rising operating costs, declining enrollment and the loss of grant funding as driving factors in the closure.

Christine Sergent, Executive Director of NECC, said the organization remains open to reconsidering childcare in the future, though no timeline has been announced.

“We are monitoring the governor’s actions as they clearly relate to the needs of the people we serve,” Sergent said. She added that she is hopeful that potential state resources could eventually bring more childcare options back to Millerton and surrounding communities, whether before or after NECC moves to a new facility.

Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago, D-District-19, said the closure of the ELP has intensified the childcare challenges in the region. Drago, who had been working to raise awareness about the issue even before the pilot program was announced, said cuts to federal funding will be felt in rural Dutchess County.

“Childcare is a must-have,” Drago said. “Families need childcare if they’re going to work, and this is something we need to be fighting for.”

While he said Hochul’s proposal is a step in the right direction, Drago described the funding as a “drop in the bucket.” He hopes to organize a public forum to discuss the issue and better inform state representatives about the urgent childcare needs in northern Dutchess County.

Still, the news signals hope for local parents like Kim Yarnell, whose family was affected by the ELP closure.

“As a parent, I have struggled for years trying to source reliable and affordable care for my kids just so I could go to work,” Yarnell said, adding that she is thrilled about the pilot program.

Yarnell said it will be crucial that those overseeing the pilot rollout involve parent advocates upfront as part of the process to ensure that funding and support are allocated to not just county-run childcare facilities, but also private and in-home care – especially in rural communities like Millerton.