OLEAN, N.Y. — SUNY Jamestown Community College held an opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Tuesday afternoon for the new child care center on the Cattaraugus County Campus.
Open since August, the JCC YMCA Learning Center is run and staffed by the YMCA of the Twin Tiers. The center offers nearly 50 spots during the school year and 100 over the summer months for students’ children.
The opening of the center is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s $10.8 million commitment to establish child care centers on SUNY campuses, from which Jamestown Community College received $1.7 million, to address child care deserts and expand access to affordable child care across the state.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., who announced the opening said, “Affordable child care is imperative for students who are also parents to attend classes and finish their degrees, as well as for the residents of (Olean) who depend on child care to remain in the workforce and provide for their families. There is a place at SUNY for every New Yorker, including student-parents, and we are proud to work with Governor Hochul to ensure every parent seeking an education has the child care they need to succeed.”
Cattaraugus County Campus.
The opening ceremony included remarks from State Senator George Borello, Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, Lee James representing the office of Congressman Nick Langworthy, Olean Mayor William Aiello, YMCA of the Twin Tiers CEO Jeff Townsend, JCC President Daniel DeMarte, and Anne Cusumano, a JCC student whose child attends the center.
Cusumano, who is studying Social Sciences: Psychology at JCC, praised the YMCA staff for all they do to care for her daughter.
“School would not be possible for me without the Early Learning Center here at JCC,” she said. “I’m a single mom, and I have a small support system. I have a wonderful grandmother to my daughter, who is here with me today to support me, and my dad. I really wanted to say thank you to the YMCA and JCC for this opportunity."
She concluded: “We definitely know we’re in the right place.”
The Early Learning Center reflects JCC’s mission to foster educational opportunities for all students, including those with young children. The center is designed to offer flexible, affordable care that caters to the unique needs of student parents, allowing them to pursue their academic goals without sacrificing the care and well-being of their families. The center will serve as a critical resource in the region, helping to close the gap in child care availability in New York's rural areas.
“At Jamestown Community College, we are committed to supporting our students’ success both inside and outside the classroom,” DeMarte said. “The opening of the Early Learning Center is a significant step in addressing the real challenges many of our students face in balancing their education with their family responsibilities. By providing affordable, high-quality childcare, we’re ensuring that our student parents have the resources they need to succeed in their academic and personal lives.”
Townsend highlighted the YMCA's role in child development and early learning and emphasized the YMCA's mission to strengthen kids, families, and communities through programs and services.
“The YMCA is a crucial link in the chain of child development,” he said. “We aim to be the leading provider of safe, nurturing, and affordable childcare in our region.”
JCC has partnered with the YMCA Twin Tiers for several years, collaborating on various initiatives, including using YMCA facilities for the college’s physical education complex. As the need for child care became more apparent among JCC’s student population, this existing relationship made the YMCA a natural fit to help deliver child care services on campus.
“It has been a privilege working alongside the YMCA Twin Tiers to bring this vital service to our campus,” said Paula Snyder, executive director of Cattaraugus County Campus. “The expertise and support provided by their team, especially Executive Director Jeff Townsend, have been instrumental in ensuring that we offer a nurturing and enriching environment for our students' children. The YMCA's longstanding commitment to community development and child care aligns perfectly with our goals, and their input has been invaluable in shaping the center’s operations. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership to serve the families of our college and the broader Olean community.”
The New York State investment in child care was part of Governor Hochul's 2023 Budget and her wide-reaching initiative to ensure that students, faculty, and staff on all SUNY campuses have access to high-quality child care centers. Demand for child care spots has risen significantly, and on some campuses, as many as 80% of students with dependents report they have trouble meeting their child care needs.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, SUNY child care centers offered 4,021 spots for children across 47 centers, serving 596 student parents as well as children of faculty, staff, and community members.
For more information about the Early Learning Center, to register your child, or to inquire about employment, contact Brianna Simms, Executive Director of New York State Child Care for the YMCA of the Twin Tiers at 585.593.3246 or BriannaS@TwinTiersYMCA.org.
Additional details can be found at twintiersymca.org/OleanEarlyLearningCenter.aspx.