New Child Care Scholarship Program Expands Access to Union Building Trades Careers in New York

Supporting Apprentices, Working Families, and Economic Opportunity

A new pilot initiative is helping remove one of the biggest barriers that prevents working parents from pursuing careers in the union building and construction trades: the cost of child care.

The New York State Building Trades Child Care Scholarship Program, administered by the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), provides up to $1,000 per month in child care assistance for eligible families participating in apprenticeship readiness programs or working in the early stages of registered apprenticeships in the building trades.

This transformative program represents an important step forward in supporting workforce development, strengthening union apprenticeship pathways, and expanding economic mobility for families across New York State.

Why Child Care Support Matters for Workforce Development

For many parents, especially those entering apprenticeship training programs, the cost of reliable child care can make it difficult to pursue career advancement opportunities.

By helping cover child care costs, the program enables parents to:

• Focus on apprenticeship training and education
• Participate in hands-on learning and job site training
• Build long-term careers in the skilled union trades
• Support their families while pursuing middle-class career pathways

According to the program overview, the scholarship helps reduce financial barriers by directly paying approved child care providers, ensuring families can access reliable care while parents focus on training and employment opportunities.

Strengthening the Union Apprenticeship Pipeline

Union apprenticeship programs are widely recognized as one of the most effective workforce development models in the United States. They provide:

• Earn-while-you-learn training
• Industry-recognized certifications
• Family-supporting wages and benefits
• Long-term career stability

The child care scholarship initiative supports this pipeline by allowing more individuals—especially those from underserved communities—to participate fully in these programs.

The program specifically aims to:

• Enable workforce participation by covering up to $1,000 per month in child care costs
• Reduce financial barriers that often prevent individuals from pursuing apprenticeship careers
• Empower working families with reliable child care solutions
• Promote long-term career advancement in the building trades
• Strengthen economic mobility in underserved communities

  By addressing child care challenges, the initiative ensures that more parents can access the life-changing opportunities available through union apprenticeships.

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  Who Is Eligible?

  The scholarship program is currently launching as a pilot initiative in select regions.

  Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  Eligible applicants must:

  • Be a New York State resident living in NYC, Monroe County, or Onondaga County
  • Be attending a New York Building Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Program

  OR

  • Be a registered apprentice or journeyworker living in an underserved community who needs child care assistance

  Applications are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis while funding remains available.

  

• How to Apply

  Individuals interested in applying can request an application or learn more by contacting:

  📧 tradeschildcare@wdiny.org

  Applicants can also scan the QR code on the program flyer or complete the application form provided by program administrators.

  Building Stronger Communities Through Opportunity

  Programs like the NYS Building Trades Child Care Scholarship Program highlight the importance of removing barriers that prevent individuals from accessing high-quality career opportunities.

  Across New York and the United States, the union building and construction trades continue to play a vital role in:

  • Workforce development
  • Infrastructure investment
  • Community economic growth
  • Creating pathways to the middle class

  By supporting working parents pursuing apprenticeship training, this initiative strengthens not only individual careers but also the future of the skilled trades workforce.

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  ULA Network Perspective

  At the ULA Network, we believe initiatives like this represent the type of workforce innovation that helps expand opportunity and strengthen communities.

  Supporting apprenticeship access—especially for working parents—helps ensure the next generation of skilled union trades professionals can thrive while supporting their families.

  Programs like this also demonstrate how collaboration between labor organizations, workforce development partners, and community leaders can create real pathways to economic mobility.

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  ✔ For more information or to request an application:
  📧 tradeschildcare@wdiny.org

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  Source: New York State Building Trades Child Care Scholarship Program flyer administered by the Workforce Development Institute (WDI).