Katie Hobbs announced a new round of funding and resources aimed at improving access to affordable child care across Arizona, part of a broader effort to support working families statewide.
The initiative includes $3 million in grants for out-of-school time programs, designed to expand care options for children ages 5 to 12. Administered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the funding will support 59 providers and is expected to serve more than 2,500 children. Officials say the grants could reduce child care costs for families by as much as two-thirds, easing financial pressure amid rising living expenses.
In addition to funding, the state launched a new Child Care Provider Search Tool, allowing families to more easily locate care that fits their needs. The platform enables users to filter providers by availability, age groups served, hours, languages spoken, and accepted financial assistance programs.
State leaders emphasized that access to reliable child care is essential not only for early childhood development but also for parents balancing work and education. The initiative is part of the broader Bright Futures AZ program, which focuses on making child care more accessible and affordable.
Further support is being directed toward small child care businesses. More than $700,000 in funding will go to four nonprofit lending organizations, which will provide training, financial guidance, and access to capital for microbusinesses in the sector. The goal is to help providers expand capacity and create more available slots for families in need.
Officials say the combined efforts reflect one of the largest recent state-level investments in child care, building on previous budget measures that expanded assistance to hundreds of families.
