February 06, 2025 - Harrisburg, PA
Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Human Services Dr. Val Arkoosh visited CrossPoint Early Learning Center in Dauphin County to highlight the Governor's 2025-26 proposed budget, which builds on his efforts to make childcare more affordable by expanding and strengthening the childcare workforce. Governor Shapiro has worked to make childcare more affordable over his first two years - and this year's budget proposal works to make childcare more available for Pennsylvania families. The 2025-26 budget proposal builds on Governor Shapiro's first two budgets with a $55 million investment in workforce recruitment and retention grants to increase childcare availability and pay these dedicated workers more. These grants would provide an additional $1,000 annually per employee working in licensed childcare centers in the Child Care Works (CCW) Program. Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has expanded the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, delivering $136 million in savings to over 218,000 families, and created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit to help businesses contribute to employees' childcare costs. These initiatives have been key in helping to make childcare more affordable for families all across the Commonwealth. "My budget proposal places a special emphasis on workforce development - addressing growing workforce shortages across several critical sectors, including childcare," said Governor Shapiro. "Right now, we have 3,000 unfilled jobs in childcare centers across Pennsylvania and when families can't find safe, affordable childcare for their kids, it forces them out of our workforce and hurts our economy. That's why my budget includes $55 million to give childcare workers in Pennsylvania at least $1,000 in recruitment or retention bonuses to invest in our workforce and solve this problem." Listof Speakers:Suzanne Brubacher, Director of CrossPoint Early Learning CenterGovernor Josh ShapiroMegan Gherrity, a parent whose children attend CrossPoint Early Learning CenterJennifer Shirk-Weiss, teacher at CrossPoint Early Learning CenterSecretary of Human Services Dr. Val ArkooshSenator Patty KimRepresentative Justin Fleming
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