The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced the graduation of 16 participants from the Childcare Business Pathways (CBP) program, representing the eighth cohort to complete the program since 2016. To date, a total of 137 NYCHA public housing residents and Section 8 voucher holders have graduated from the free program, which is designed to help NYCHA residents start and grow successful, home-based businesses in the field of childcare. The 15-week program, which most recently ran from July 29 to November 20, 2024, is delivered by NYCHA’s Department of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) in partnership with Business Outreach Center (BOC Net) and is made possible by a grant from the JPMorganChase Foundation through the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF). A formal graduation ceremony was held for the newest cohort on Monday, December 9, 2024.
“The Childcare Business Pathways program furthers the Adams administration’s priorities of making childcare more accessible and supporting our NYCHA residents to pursue pathways to entrepreneurship and financial empowerment,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Congratulations to the graduating cohort and thank you to the JPMorganChase Foundation for making this Women Forward NYC program possible.”
“Childcare Business Pathways, along with our other Business Pathways Programs, is an invaluable tool in supporting the entrepreneurial spirit and career goals of NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The program instills the core principles of owning and operating a profitable business, which ultimately enriches the surrounding communities by providing the critical resource of childcare. NYCHA sends its heartfelt congratulations to all of the graduates from this cohort, and the best of luck in the next chapter for their businesses.”
“The goal of NYCHA’s Business Pathways programs is to tap into the talent, passion, and drive inherent in so many of our residents,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President for Resident Services, Partnerships, and Initiatives Ukah Busgith. “Once we’ve done that and provided them with the tools and skillsets necessary to succeed as business-owners in a particular field, the sky is really the limit. We wish all the graduates from this Childcare Business Pathways cohort the absolute best of luck with what lies ahead of them, and we know they will provide the highest standard of care to children in their communities.”
“The Public Housing Community Fund is proud to support NYCHA Business Pathways’ Childcare Business Pathways program,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki. “Childcare is a critical industry that meets a major need for working families, who must have high quality childcare in safe environments convenient to home and work. Childcare Business Pathways provides the ‘pathway’ to entrepreneurship as graduates become licensed home-based childcare business owners, a reliable source of income and safe and affordable childcare for families in the community. The Public Housing Community Fund warmly congratulates all graduates of this special program.”
“JPMorganChase has been serving New Yorkers for 225 years — and investing in programs like NYCHA’s Business Pathways is yet another way we are showing up for the communities where our employees and clients live and work,” said JPMorganChase Northeast Regional Executive for Global Philanthropy Jeanique Druses. “Thriving small businesses are foundational to building generational wealth and a strong economy. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with partners across the city to remove obstacles and establish pathways to the resources that enable small business growth in all communities.”
Built on the success of the NYCHA Food Business Pathways Program, the Childcare Business Pathways program provides NYCHA residents with the tools needed to start their business, including childcare training, business coaching, certification training, some licensing costs, free supplies, and assistance in completing the New York State (NYS) childcare license application. Additionally, participants receive technical assistance in completing the NYS childcare business application and preparing their homes for the required New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspections. The goal of the program is to assist NYCHA residents in launching group, family, or legally exempt childcare businesses, providing the surrounding community with greater access to quality childcare services close to home. Childcare Business Pathways has a competitive, multi-step application process through which applicants are evaluated on their qualifications and demonstrated interest. After the interview process, program participants are selected based on childcare industry work or volunteer experience, business history, preliminary business outline or plan, and references.
To date, 49 Childcare Business Pathways graduates are licensed, home-based childcare providers, and 27 graduates are currently operating registered businesses. The program’s ninth cohort is expected to begin in spring 2025.
The Childcare Business Pathways program is included in the Adams administration’s Women Forward NYC initiative, an action plan to address gender disparities by connecting women to professional development and higher-paying jobs; dismantling barriers to sexual, reproductive, and maternal healthcare; reducing gender-based violence against women; and provide holistic housing services.
NYCHA’s Department of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability supports residents through programs focused on employment and career advancement, adult education and vocational training, financial empowerment, and resident business development. REES connects residents to a wide array of services in their neighborhoods through partnerships with local organizations. Since inception, a total of 462 NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders have graduated from the Authority’s Business Pathways programs, including the Food and Childcare Business Pathways programs.
About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.
For more information, please visit nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via Facebook and Twitter.
