BCW Member The Child Care Council of Westchester Opens Regional Child Care Workforce Training Center

The New Training Center and innovative Learning Lab will provide professional development and hands-on education for child care professionals across the region.

TARRYTOWN, NY (October 2, 2026) – BCW member The Child Care Council of Westchester (CCCW) officially opened its new Regional Child Care Workforce Training Center on Thursday, October 1. The nearly 1,500-square-foot facility was created to expand professional development opportunities for child care professionals across Westchester and the Mid-Hudson region. Dr. Marsha Gordon was thrilled to be in attendance.

CCCW marked the opening with a ribbon cutting and open house, joined by state and county officials, child care professionals, community partners, and representatives from across the region.

The Center includes flexible classroom space for training such as CPR and First Aid certification, medication administration, health and safety, child development and other courses required for licensing and ongoing professional growth. At its heart is the Learning Lab, the only child care training simulation room of its kind in Westchester and just the second in New York State. Designed to mirror a home-based child care setting, the Lab allows professionals to practice skills in a realistic environment, including room setup, safe sleep, diapering, childproofing, feeding and developmental activities.

“Child care professionals do extraordinarily important work, and they need training that reflects the realities they face every day,” said Laura Newman, Executive Director of the Child Care Council of Westchester. “This Center allows us to combine high-quality instruction with real-world practice, giving professionals a place to learn, build skills, and gain confidence. The Learning Lab, in particular, allows us to move from ‘best practice’ to actual practice in a setting that mirrors the environments where they actually care for children.”

“This is more than a new training space,” said Dr. Emily Koelsch, President of the Child Care Council of Westchester Board of Directors. It is an investment in the growth and sustainability of the child care field. Our Board of Directors are proud of the Council’s longstanding commitment to children and those who care for them. That support is reflected in this innovative, practical resource that educates child care professionals today and will have a lasting impact across our region.”

The new Center comes as access to affordable child care continues to affect families, employers, and the regional economy. By helping providers strengthen their skills, meet regulatory requirements, and sustain high-quality programs, the facility is intended to support both the child care workforce and the families who depend on it.

The project was supported in part by a $100,000 grant from Empire State Development (ESD) through the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

“A strong child care system is essential to a strong regional economy, supporting both the professionals who care for our children and the families who rely on them to participate in the workforce,” said Empire State Development Mid-Hudson Regional Director Linda Malave. “This new training center will give child care professionals across the Mid-Hudson region access to high-quality, hands-on training that strengthens their skills and helps providers deliver the quality care families depend on. ESD is proud to support the Child Care Council of Westchester as it invests in the workforce that helps our communities and economy thrive.”

“Access to quality child care is a workforce issue and a business issue,” said Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester and Co-Chair of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. “A strong economy depends on working parents having reliable child care and on the skilled professionals who provide it. This new Training Center is an important investment in that workforce and in the strength of our regional economy.”

During the open house, guests toured the Center and Learning Lab and saw demonstrations of how the new spaces will be used for professional development and hands-on instruction.

For more information about the Child Care Council of Westchester or the new Workforce Training Center, call (914) 761-3456 or visit www.childcarewestchester.org.

About the Child Care Council of Westchester
The Child Care Council of Westchester is a 501c3 nonprofit resource organization founded in 1968 that champions the healthy development of children, families and communities by promoting quality early care and education. A unique “one stop” agency for child care, the Council connect parents with quality child care and related financial resources, supports child care providers with training and business best practices, assists employers with resources for their workforce, and advocates for policies and funding that supports the needs of families and care providers.