View the Complete Press Release from Heywood Healthcare, CLICK HERE.
View the Complete Press Release from the State of Massachusetts, CLICK HERE.
North Central MA Childcare Gets a Boost – Groundbreaking Pilot Funding
Childcare in North Central MA is getting a boost. We have combined two short “Deep Dives” covering the Press Release from the State of MA and the Press Release from Heywood Healthcare. The discussion explains the initiative. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Heywood Healthcare’s Press Release of July 16, 2026, CLICK HERE, focuses on the partnership of Heywood Healthcare, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, and Upwards in supporting a regional effort to expand access to affordable child care in the region.
By utilizing funds from the Employer Childcare Innovation Fund, the partnership aims to provide tuition subsidies and enrollment support to healthcare workers facing financial hardship. The program addresses critical workforce challenges, such as employee retention and recruitment, which are often hindered by the high cost of infant care. Ultimately, this regional project seeks to create sustainable childcare solutions that benefit both working families and the broader economy in North Central Massachusetts.
State-Wide Initiative: The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded $2 million in grants through the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund to improve child care access across Massachusetts. This pilot program fosters partnerships between businesses and care providers to address the specific needs of the modern workforce, such as nontraditional hours and increased infant care. By funding organizations like the United Way and local businesses, the initiative aims to help parents remain in the labor market while making the state more economically competitive. The ECCIF program was launched in 2024. Note: $800,000 of the $2 million in funds has been awarded to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts. See complete State Press Release, CLICK HERE.
North Central MA Focus: The United Way of North Central Massachusetts plans to use the state grant to improve child care access and bolster the local workforce. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Heywood Healthcare, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, and the technology platform Upwards. By utilizing funds from the Employer Childcare Innovation Fund, the partnership aims to provide tuition subsidies and enrollment support to healthcare workers facing financial hardship. The program addresses critical workforce challenges, such as employee retention and recruitment, which are often hindered by the high cost of infant care.
The Heywood Healthcare component: As a 24/7 healthcare provider and one of the largest employers in North Central Massachusetts, Heywood Healthcare has spent years analyzing workforce challenges. The average annual cost of infant care in MA is over $26,000. Rozanna Penney, President and CEO of Heywood Healthcare stated, “I have seen the incredible people of Heywood Healthcare face impossible choices, not because of a lack of dedication, but because child care has become unaffordable and out of reach. Too often, employees are forced to step away from the workforce because they cannot make ends meet…” View complete Press Release, CLICK HERE.
The following infographics provide further information on the Massachusetts Pilot Program and the North Central MA Initiative – CLICK IMAGE for Larger View
