Governor Hochul has announced that nearly $70 million in grant funding has been awarded to newly licensed or permitted early childhood programs in New York’s child care deserts. The funds, made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, are administered under the Office of Children and Family Services.
Providers awarded a Child Care Deserts Grant for New Programs are expected to participate in QUALITYstarsNY’s Start with Stars initiative once their new program is licensed. This will allow these new programs in child care deserts to access QUALITYstarsNY’s support and services to help them create a foundation for success right from the start.
QUALITYstarsNY is excited to support these new programs with the guidance and resources available through Start with Stars!
Guidance for Grant Awardees about Applying for Start with Stars
If you are awarded a RFA 1 grant, you cannot apply for Start with Stars until your program is officially licensed. Even if you have started the licensing process, we will not be able to give you access to the Start with Stars application until you are officially licensed. You will have 30 days from when your program is licensed to start the application process by completing our Program Interest Form.
