Gov. Kathy Hochul made a major announcement about an investment to expand child care across the state on Wednesday.

She visited Poughkeepsie to announce that she's partnering with Dutchess and two other counties to launch a pilot program to expand child care options.

Each county will get $20 million for the program, according to Hochul.

It's part of a larger, $4.5 billion investment to deliver universal child care statewide.

Laura Newman, executive director of the Child Care Council of Westchester, says the funding could also help struggling families in Westchester.

"In Westchester County, many families need two incomes to survive here. They can't make it on just one income and if both parents are going to be out of the house working, then they have to have childcare," Newman said.

Hochul said the larger investment will also help fund Pre-K classes for all 4 year olds by the 2028-29 school year.