5BORO Institute NYC Child Care Summit
The Business Case for Child Care
New York City is at a tipping point on child care. At the 5BORO Institute’s NYC Child Care Summit, we brought together over 150 leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector to confront a shared reality: New York’s child care system is not working—and the consequences are being felt across our economy.
This new report captures what we heard and what comes next. It outlines why deeper public investment is essential—and why the business community must play a more active role in shaping and advancing solutions.
Download the full reportAbout the summit
On October 16, 2025, the 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union hosted the NYC Child Care Summit at Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, convening leaders from across sectors to discuss solutions to the city’s child care challenges.
Speakers and participants included leaders from government, business, and philanthropy, reflecting a growing recognition that addressing child care requires cross-sector collaboration. The 5BORO NYC Child Care Summit was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and partners.
Watch highlights from the summit
Explore key moments and insights from the NYC Child Care Summit on our YouTube channel: 5BORO-Institute
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Zoning Laws as a Barrier to Government & Business Investments in Childcare
Esty CEO Kruti Patel Goyal on the Importance of Child Care Benefits for Businesses
Key takeaways
New York City needs deeper public investments in child care—and the business community has an essential role to play.
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Child care is an economic issue—not just a family issue
Families are struggling to find and afford care, while employers face workforce instability, reduced productivity, and talent loss. Child care is essential infrastructure for a functioning economy.
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The current system is failing families, providers, and businesses
Across the board, stakeholders agreed: the existing system does not meet the needs of New Yorkers. Without reform, the city risks losing families and workers.
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Business leadership can unlock policy change
In cities and states across the country, business leaders have played a critical role in advancing major child care investments. New York has an opportunity to follow that model.
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Political momentum is building—but action is needed
With growing alignment across city and state leadership, sustained advocacy and coalition-building will be essential to achieving meaningful reform.
Building Momentum for Child Care in NYC
Why This Moment Matters
The NYC Child Care Summit marked a shift in the conversation.
Participants—from major employers to policymakers to advocates—were aligned around a core insight: child care is foundational to New York City’s economic future.
As highlighted throughout the summit, expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care is critical to:
- Supporting working families
- Retaining & growing the workforce
- Strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurship
- Ensuring NYC’s long-term competitiveness