COLUMBUS, Ohio-House Bill 484, proposed by Kettering state representative Andrea White, aims to address Ohio’s child care crisis by creating a $10 million grant fund. The fund would assist employers in establishing or enhancing onsite or near-site child care facilities, partnering with existing providers, or constructing new facilities. Grants would be capped at $750,000 per recipient.
The bill seeks to incentivize employers to invest in child care solutions, potentially attracting new hires and reducing the state’s child care deserts. White emphasizes the importance of affordable child care, citing high costs and their impact on workforce participation. The legislation aligns with previous efforts to expand child care access in Ohio, focusing on increasing capacity alongside affordability. Grantees would be required to participate in the state’s subsidized child care program and Step Up to Quality initiative. While the bill lacks a proposal for funding the grant, it represents an attempt to tackle a pressing issue affecting both current and future workforces in Ohio.
