CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – Youth swimming lessons are coming to local colleges.
On July 21, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Department of Health is partnering with SUNY for Hochul’s NY SWIMS initiative.
The partnership will utilize state funds to provide free classes for kids ages 12 and under at nine SUNY campuses this year, including Cortland, TC3, and Binghamton.
“NY SWIMS provides more inclusive and safe opportunities for children and our families to learn how to swim and access to recreation,” said State Senator Lea Webb. “Partnering with SUNY opens up new locations to expand the reach of this incredible program. These investments in our community will update infrastructure, create new partnerships, and improve water safety across Senate District. I am proud to be receiving this funding and thankful to the Governor for her continued investments across the Southern Tier and Central New York.”
SWIMS, which launched in 2024 to make lessons more accessible and improve water safety, has invested nearly $260 million in 79 projects across the Empire State. The initiative comes as drowning now ranks as the leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4, and a significant cause of death in children aged 5 to 14.
