An Act to Commit a Fair Share to Early Childhood Education

An Act to Increase the Availability of Early Child Care Through the Development and Use of Under-Utilized Municipally-Owned Property

Severe childcare shortages afflict Massachusetts, leaving 70% of infants in childcare deserts. Upfront capital barriers are prohibitively expensive due to high land costs and strict space requirements (35 sq. ft. indoors, 75 sq. ft. outdoors per child), keeping non-profit early childhood educators from entering high-cost urban markets.

This bill establishes the Co-Location Development Fund, financed by point-of-sale state lottery proceeds. It provides capital grants to renovate dedicated childcare spaces in underutilized municipal buildings like community centers and libraries. Municipalities must lease these spaces to non-profit providers at de minimis rent, with a 50% reservation for low-income subsidized families.

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