U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $4 million in federal funds for Rochester Rehabilitation Center. This funding was allocated by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Strengthening Working Families Initiative. Schumer and Gillibrand said this program will help low- to middle- skilled parents access the affordable, quality child care they need to earn an education, participate in job-training programs and ultimately compete for better-paying jobs in emerging industries.
“This funding will help Rochester area parents access the affordable child care services they need to pursue higher education or skills-training programs – both of which can lead to better-paying jobs and economic advancement for these families,” said Senator Schumer. “Rochester Rehabilitation Center is a great asset to the region that opens the door to parents who might otherwise be unable to pursue their dreams and compete in the workforce without this critical child care service. I was proud to support this essential funding and will continue to fight to see that child care remains affordable for all.”
“These much-needed funds will help working parents in Rochester pursue their career goals while also taking care of their families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I urged the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year to fund this project in order to help make workforce development and training more accessible to parents. When 7 out of every 10 mothers work, we need to make sure that we’re giving all of our working parents access to the resources and support they need to thrive. I will continue to work with my colleagues to support more funding for programs like this.”
According to the DOL, these federal investments are aimed strengthening and supporting public-private partnerships that are devoted to helping parents advance in their careers by bridging gaps between local workforce development and child care systems. Partnerships will facilitate access to training in a variety of industries such as information technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services and educational services.
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