A first-of-its-kind pilot program is coming to New York City, bringing support to working families across the municipal workforce.
Announced today by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the initiative will provide free, high-quality, year-round child care for the little ones of City employees.
What To Know
Set to launch this fall following the completion of a brand-new facility inside the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, the program will serve approximately 40 children between 6 weeks and 3 years old.
Care will be available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm, offering a safe, nurturing, and developmentally rich environment designed to support early learning, growth, and socialization.
Eligibility Requirements
The program has been specifically expanded to support a broad range of public servants. To be eligible for the pilot, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Employment Status: You must be a full-time DCAS employee (regardless of your specific work location) OR a full-time City employee assigned to work at 1 Centre Street.
- Parental Status: You must be the parent or legal guardian of a child who meets the age requirements (6 weeks old as of September 1, 2026, and under 3 years old as of December 31, 2026).
- Application Limit: Families may submit one application per child.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- April 30th, 2026: Applications officially launch via the DCAS website.
- June 2026: Selection notifications will be sent to families.
- Fall 2026: The child care center is scheduled to open and begin operations.
Note: Families who are not selected during the initial phase will be placed on a waitlist and contacted as spots become available.
How To Apply
Applications will open on April 30th, with eligibility extended to all Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) employees—regardless of where they work—as well as all City employees based at 1 Centre Street.
Selected families will be notified in June, with additional applicants placed on a waitlist as space allows.
What This Means For New Yorkers
Beyond convenience, this pilot represents a real investment in working families—potentially saving parents up to $20,000 per year in child care costs, while giving them back valuable hours each day.
In today’s press conference, Mayor Mamdani said:
Change begins at home. As we deliver universal child care to New Yorkers, that work must include the public servants who keep this city running. We are bringing year-round, no-cost child care right here to Lower Manhattan.
For general inquiries regarding city-wide 3-K and 2-K enrollment for non-municipal workers, New Yorkers can visit nyc.gov/enroll or call 311 to speak with an early childhood education specialist.
For full eligibility details and to prepare for the April 30 application launch, employees are encouraged to visit the official DCAS website.
