Governor Haley touts $65 million childcare investment, rate increases and expanded subsidy eligibility in Westfield visit

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Governor Haley visited Roots preschool in Westfield to highlight the administration’s recent childcare initiatives and to meet local providers on [date not specified]. She said the current budget includes a $65,000,000 investment in childcare and that new reimbursement rates for providers will take effect this month.

“We were able to make a $65,000,000 investment in our current budget in childcare,” Governor Haley said, adding the package includes a 5.5% rate increase that she described as “more than $2,000 per child” in new money for providers. The governor also said the administration plans to expand subsidy eligibility from 50% of state median income to 85% of the area median for families, which she said will allow more families to qualify for assistance.

The governor and administration officials framed the measures as part of a broader effort to make life more affordable and to stabilize the childcare market. “We want every 4‑year‑old in the state to have access to high quality childcare,” Haley said, describing the Gateway to Pre‑K initiative that will begin in gateway cities and aims to expand access over the next few years.

Pat Cottweiler, introduced in the program as the secretary of education, and Amy Kershaw, commissioner for early education and child care, emphasized the need to address long‑standing geographic inequities in how rates have been set. Kershaw said the $65,000,000 and grant funding are intended to increase providers’ purchasing power and encourage more programs to participate in the subsidy system without increasing costs to families.

Local providers at the event described immediate effects. John DeStefano of Square 1, a regional provider, said the new funding has allowed the organization to cover operating expenses it previously struggled to pay. “I paid all of my bills,” DeStefano said, noting Square 1 serves about 500 children and that a substantial share of its families rely on subsidies.

Kelly Brown, chief operating officer of the Boys and Girls Club in Westfield, said the changes have also helped staff access education and voucher support. “Giving them priority on voucher placement was huge,” Brown said, describing how staff and families have benefited from expanded eligibility.

Michelle Hanouche, director of Jumpstart, said grants described during the visit have enabled programs to provide bonuses and other supports to retain staff. Nicole Papa, program director at Roots, thanked the administration for recognizing the early childhood field and noted the program’s mix of classroom and enrichment activities.

Officials said tax‑credit and affordability measures will complement the direct childcare spending. Haley said the state will introduce what she called “the most generous child and family dependent tax credit in the entire country” beginning in April, linking tax relief to broader family affordability goals.

Administration officials invited providers to continue offering on‑the‑ground feedback, and they said their regional teams will work directly with communities to implement changes. Officials repeatedly framed the effort as collaborative, noting other community needs — including housing and transportation — must be addressed alongside childcare.

The visit included remarks from local elected officials and multiple provider testimonials; there were no formal votes or motions recorded at the event. Officials said implementation details and further outreach will follow through agency channels.