House Bill 41: supporters say grants to convert underused space will expand childcare capacity

Supporters of House Bill 41 told the House Committee on Children and Human Services that the bill’s proposed grants would encourage public‑private partnerships to convert underused commercial and public properties into licensed childcare classrooms, increasing capacity quickly and lowering operating costs for providers.

Rick Carfagna, senior vice president for government affairs at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, told the committee that Ohio has “a considerable volume of dormant or underutilized commercial properties that are ripe for conversion into childcare spaces” and pointed to high office vacancy rates in several Ohio cities as potential opportunities. He described projects where libraries and donated land were repurposed for childcare and the Ashland County “Women’s Fund Child Care Initiative,” which…