Nontraditional Employment for Women Expands Childcare Program

Today, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) held a press conference to announce the expansion of its innovative childcare program, which provides crucial support for New York City parents working in the building, construction, utilities, maintenance, and transportation industries. The program's expansion is funded by a $375,000 New York State legislative grant from the NYS Department of Labor, with significant backing from New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, and Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera.

Key figures including Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Harry Bronson, and Gary LaBarbera joined NEW President Leah Rambo to speak on the importance of this initiative. Tradeswomen and program participants Melissa Castillo (Local 3) and Shira Levine (Local 1) also shared their personal experiences, highlighting the positive impact of the childcare program on their careers and families.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support working parents in the trades. With this generous grant through the New York State Department of Labor, made possible by the unwavering support of Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Harry Bronson, and Gary LaBarbera, we can expand our childcare program to reach even more families,” said Leah Rambo, President of Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW). “This initiative not only helps parents secure reliable and affordable childcare, but also ensures that careers in the trades remain accessible and sustainable for everyone. We are deeply grateful for the continued collaboration and commitment to breaking down barriers for women and all workers in the trades.”

“As we chart a path to universal childcare, this important pilot not only has allowed us to expand access to childcare assistance to trades families but deliver that assistance in a way that works best for families of all kinds in the construction industry,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. “I look forward to continuing our work alongside the New York State and New York City Building and Construction Trades Council to expand this vital program.”

“Nontraditional Employment Women (NEW) focuses on preparing, training and placing individuals who identify as women in the skilled trades so they can achieve economic independence for themselves and their families. Integral to their success is removing barriers to childcare. The legislative funding for NEW provides that opportunity with subsidies to help pay for childcare during nontraditional and flexible work hours that meet the demands of construction jobsite operating hours, which are not 9 to 5 jobs,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Chair of Labor. “Thank you, Senator Jessica Ramos, and New York City Building and Construction Trades Council president Gary LaBarbera for your leadership in obtaining this funding, and for including me in this partnership.”

“A core value of the Building Trades is creating accessible, family-sustaining union careers and a path to the middle class that is attainable for our members and apprentices, but that is only possible if we are doing what we can to outwardly support working parents,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the New York State and New York City Building and Construction Trades Council. “This grant that runs through the New York State Department of Labor allows us to do just that by expanding the childcare program piloted by BCTC and TradesFuture through NEW to benefit more tradesmen and tradeswomen and their families as it eases the financial and emotional toll that comes with finding reliable childcare options. We applaud labor chairs Senator Jesscia Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson for their support of this initiative and look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Legislature to sustain the further expansion of this program so that more hardworking families can avoid this unnecessary barrier.”

NEW's childcare program, initially launched in 2022 with seed funding from TradesFutures, addresses the unique challenges faced by trades workers, such as early start times, overtime, and long commutes, which often make traditional childcare options impractical. The program offers cash assistance up to $1,000 monthly for up to 12 months, and technical assistance to pre-apprenticeship organizations, ensuring comprehensive support for working parents.

With this new grant, NEW will expand its services in collaboration with the Apprenticeship Readiness Collective (ARC), which includes partners such as The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills, Inc. (CSKILLS), NY Helmets to Hardhats (H2H), and Pathways to Apprenticeship (P2A). This expansion aims to reach a broader range of working parents and enhance the success of apprenticeship programs by reducing the financial and emotional burdens of childcare.