<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=43wKvb_0vjcIDdY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=43wKvb_0vjcIDdY00" width="1569" height="1045" ><figcaption>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the Second Street Learning Center in Reading on Wednesday where he met with children, staff and community leaders to highlight recent tax cuts included in the latest state budget aimed at lowering costs for Pennsylvania families and small businesses. (Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)</figcaption></figure>All Jennifer Stepp needed was an opportunity, and a little bit of help.The opportunity came to her back in 2004, when she got a job as a teacher at Opportunity House’s Second Street Learning Center. For the 21-year-old single mother of two, it was a godsend.Not only was she able to earn a paycheck, but she was also able to enroll her kids in the program so she didn’t have to face the hefty burden of finding child care.“At first I wasn’t sure how I could afford child care, but the staff helped me through it,” she said. “I was able to get funding to help pay for it.”A few years later, Stepp came to a point where she needed help.She had a new baby and was in an abusive relationship, and ended up having to stay with her father. She slept on a couch, while her three children shared a futon.“Another bad situation,” she said. “I needed help, and help is what I got.”She was able to utilize Opportunity House’s housing program, which provided her with a place to stay.“So not only did I have a safe, happy place for my children to be cared for while I worked, I now had a safe, happy home for them,” she said.Stepp embraced the opportunity and help she had been given, determined to use them to create a brighter future for her family. She went back to school and earned a teaching degree, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.And now, she serves as the head teacher at the learning center.“I never could have made it without Opportunity House’s help and guidance throughout the years,” she said. “This is not only my story — this is the story of every single parent, every low-income household that we serve here at Opportunity House.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2ysN1F_0vjcIDdY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ysN1F_0vjcIDdY00" width="1860" height="1240" ><figcaption>Jennifer Stepp, a teacher at the Second Street Learning Center in Reading, speaks about the importance of the facility during a visit by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. He was there to tout tax cuts included in the latest state budget. (Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)</figcaption></figure>Stepp told her story Wednesday at the Second Street Learning Center during a special visit from Gov. Josh Shapiro, who stopped by to talk about how state leaders are helping to make sure other people have the same opportunity and help that aided Stepp in her journey to success.Shapiro said a lack of affordable child care is often a major impediment to the economic success of parents and the state economy as a whole.“Here in Pennsylvania, our economy literally loses $3.5 billion every year in lost earnings, lost productivity and lost tax revenue for people who can’t go into the workforce because they can’t access child care,” he said.That’s why he has signed legislation aimed at making affordable child care more accessible.The latest state budget includes a major expansion to the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, helping to ease costs for working Pennsylvania families.The tax credit provides up to $1,050 for one child, age 12 or younger, or $2,100 for two or more children. That is a sizable increase from 2022 when a parent could only get up to $315 for one child, and $630 for two or more.The budget also includes an Employer Childcare Contribution Tax Credit that encourages businesses to contribute to their employees’ child care expenses. Employers can claim a tax credit for up to 30% of their total contributions to eligible child care costs, with a cap of $500 per employee.“These tax credits make a huge difference, and that is money that goes directly back into the pockets of families all across Pennsylvania,” he said.Shapiro said Berks County lawmakers have been at the forefront of efforts to improve access to affordable child care, saying they have been at the table of progress getting meaningful things done.One of those legislators is state Sen. Judy Schwank. Child care and early education has long been one of the top issues for the Ruscombmanor Township Democrat.“This is my issue — it truly is because I really feel that for us to thrive as a community we’ve got to make sure that the foundation of our economy and the well-being of our children is making sure we have good care and education for our children,” she said.“Every child in the commonwealth deserves a center like this one where they can learn, interact with other kids and start building the skills that will give them a leg up when they start school.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1uHrA9_0vjcIDdY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1uHrA9_0vjcIDdY00" width="1860" height="1240" ><figcaption>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro shakes hands with state Sen. Judy Schwank during a visit Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, to the Second Street Learning Center in Reading where he met with children, staff and community leaders to host a ceremonial bill signing for the recent tax cuts included in the latest bipartisan budget aimed at lowering costs for families and small businesses (Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)</figcaption></figure>Schwank said child care is a universal issue that touches families of all kinds in every corner of the state. And, she said, it is an extremely important one.“Affordable high-quality child care gives parents and guardians the freedom they need to go about their day, to be productive in the workforce or pursue higher education or job training they need to increase their earning potential,” she said.Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz likewise spoke about the importance of affordable child care, crediting the governor for his devotion to the issue.“I’m just thankful to be in a position where I can work with the governor and my colleagues to make the necessary changes that will impact communities for years to come,” the Reading Democrat said.Those tax credits will, indeed, have a major impact on the community, Opportunity House President Modesto Fiume said.Fiume said 95% of the children at the learning center come from low-income families who live paycheck to paycheck. He said the center offers them peace of mind knowing their children are being cared for in a facility that helps them grow emotionally, socially and developmentally.“This legislation will have a tremendous impact on lessening the burden for families throughout the commonwealth,” he said.</div></body>

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Gov. Josh Shapiro touts child care tax credit expansion in Reading

All Jennifer Stepp needed was an opportunity, and a little bit of help. The opportunity came to her back in 2004, when she got a job as a teacher at Opportunity House’s Second Street Learning Center. For the 21-year-old single mother of two, it was a godsend. Not only...