Governor Hochul Announces $7 Million Awarded in Round Two of New York's Workforce Development Initiative

42 Organizations to Receive Funding for Workforce Development Awards

Will Fund In-Demand Skills Training for More Than 2,550 New Yorkers

Additional Applications Accepted on Rolling Basis with Training Organizations Strongly Encouraged to Apply at: workforcedevelopment.ny.gov

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 42 organizations across the state have been awarded $7 million as part of the Workforce Development Initiative. This series of awards is the first group made under the second round of funding, which began in August, and makes $48 million available to support strategic regional efforts that help New Yorkers prepare for and find quality, well-paying jobs, meet businesses' short-term workforce needs, improve regional talent pipelines, expand apprenticeships, and address the long-term needs of growing industries. Applications continue to be accepted through the rolling Consolidated Funding Application Process.

Funding and incentives provided in this round of awards by Department of Labor, SUNY and CUNY will support critical job training and employment opportunities in high-demand industries for more than 2,550 New Yorkers across the State.

"We need to deal with the harsh reality that the pandemic left too many New Yorkers suddenly out of work and searching for new skills to reinvent themselves and relaunch their careers," Governor Hochul said. "These workforce awards will provide critical skills training, connect New Yorkers with the high-demand and good-paying jobs of the future, and create harmony between education, business, and public investment that will accelerate our state's economic recovery. To the New Yorkers who were driven out of work by the pandemic, or deciding on their next career steps during these uncertain times, we are building a new New York worthy of your talents and ambitions."

New York's Regional Economic Development Councils have a key role in recommending applications for funding, based on regional economic needs and opportunities. Businesses and organizations receiving Workforce Development awards include:

Capital District: SUNY Schenectady County Community College, NSH USA Corporation, Hudson Valley Community College
Central New York: Pyrotek Inc., Tompkins Cortland Community College
Finger Lakes: Rochester General Hospital, eHealth Technologies, Helen & Gertrude Agency, Lifetime Assistance Inc., Optimax SI, ProAmpac, Greater Living Architects P.C., Monroe Community College, GW Lisk, Inc, Finger Lakes Community College
Long Island: United Way of Long Island, Nicholas Center, We Connect The Dots, Inc., Catholic Health Services of Long Island, St. Francis Hospital, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Nassau Community College, Developmental Disabilities Institute, East End Disabilities Associates, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc., Independent Group Home Living, Suffolk County Community College
Mid-Hudson: Nicholas Center, Williams Lumber, ShopRite, Dutchess Community College
Mohawk Valley: Mohawk Valley Community College, Universal Plastics, Masonic Care Community, Consolidated Precision Product, Indium Corporation, The Center, GPO Federal Credit Union, The Rescue Mission, C & H Plastics
New York City: Grace Institute of New York, LaGuardia Community College, The Door - A Center of Alternatives, Inc., Bronx Community College Design Studio, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Bronx Community College, We Connect The Dots, Inc.
Southern Tier: H & E Stork Turbo Blading, Tompkins Cortland Community College, First Heritage Federal Credit Union, Corning Community College

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Workforce development is an essential part of Governor Hochul's pandemic economic recovery plan. The Workforce Development Initiative puts New Yorkers on the path to in-demand careers through education, training and skill-building while also establishing a pipeline of skilled workers to help businesses meet demand. I applaud Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to long-term solutions that benefit workers and businesses and stimulate the New York economy."

Workforce Development Initiative

The Workforce Development Initiative began in 2019 with a mission to invest $175 million throughout New York State for innovative, creative, and regionally customized workforce development projects. Awards under this Consolidated Funding Application support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses' short-term workforce needs, address long-term industry needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, and expand workplace learning opportunities.

In the first round of WDI funding, over $70 million was awarded to 225 organizations to support regionally significant industries in emerging fields with growing demands for jobs -- including clean energy, life sciences, computer science, and advanced technologies -- as well as efforts to improve the economic security of women, young workers, and other populations that face significant barriers to career advancement. Funding supports critical job training and employment opportunities in high-demand industries for over 51,000 New Yorkers across the State.

In this second call for applications, the Workforce Development Initiative is bringing together the resources, plans, and perspectives of multiple state agencies and authorities, the Regional Economic Development Councils, nonprofit training providers and private sector employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More information about the Workforce Development Initiative and the awards announced to date can be found at workforcedevelopment.ny.gov.