Hochul announces 3rd round of Office of Strategic Workforce Development grant awards totaling nearly $11 million

17 projects across state will leverage nearly $7 million in public/private funding to support almost 2,500 trainees for over 100 business partners

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development has awarded nearly $11 million in grants to 17 projects across the state through the third round of the Workforce Development Capital and Pay for Performance grant programs.

Her team said, “These grants will support the training of close to 2,500 workers through collaboration between training providers and more than 100 employer partners in fields like IT, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, broadband and construction. The office, which operates under Empire State Development, is charged with supporting industry-driven workforce development programs and practices to ensure New Yorkers are prepared to meet the needs and priorities of employers.”

Hochul said, "New York is committed to developing a strong and diverse workforce, and investing in our workers is the most important investment we can make. This new round of strategic workforce development grants will help New Yorkers acquire the skills they need to succeed in today's economy, while supporting employer-driven, high-skilled training programs that will help New Yorkers thrive in the jobs of the future."

This third round of awards from the Office of Strategic Workforce Development brings the total investments from the first three rounds to more than $24 million that will leverage more than $17 million in public and private funding and support over 9,000 trainees for more than 300 business partners.

A press release stated, “The grants awarded to 17 projects today will support employer-driven, high-skilled workforce training programs and reward innovative approaches and best practices that reduce the barriers to participation for high-need communities. The $35 million Workforce Development Capital Grant Program will support the capital needs of workforce training providers that seek to enhance or expand their offerings. The $115 million Pay for Performance Grant Program has two funding tracks: flexible operating grants that help providers cover programmatic expenses like curriculum development and wraparound services to prepare New Yorkers with in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials; and capacity-building awards, a data- and metrics-driven approach to scale up proven workforce training programs actively placing graduates in good jobs.

Using achievement-based awards, workforce training providers will receive funding to expand the capacity of successful programs with high placement rates and effective wraparound services.

“The high percentage of projects from Western New York were coordinated through the ‘Western New York Manufacturing & Tech Workforce Coalition,’ which developed a collaborative strategy to build the talent pipeline with industry-driven training in tech and manufacturing, two interconnected priority sectors in the region. These projects also leveraged a pooled philanthropic match from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Successful economic development is built by a well-skilled and well-prepared labor force. Investments like these will reinforce New York state as a producer of high-quality labor and as a hub for industry-tailored workforce training programs, securing the state as a destination for employers from around the world.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Workforce development is an important ingredient in Gov. Hochul's recipe to strengthen New York state's economic vitality. By providing proper training and education, we are giving New Yorkers the skills they need to better support themselves and their families."

Round Three Awardees

Pay for Performance (P4P) Operating Grant awardees include:

•SUNY Jamestown Community College – Western New York – $177,590 and $860,100: Jamestown Community College will enhance and expand its existing workforce development programs with two projects: an expansion of the existing industrial maintenance technician and machining programs; and the development of up to 14 new tech and manufacturing certificate pathways, to be designed with local industry partners and offered in three locations throughout the region. The program will provide trainees with industry-recognized credentials and soft-skills training, preparing graduates to fill the more than 1,000 manufacturing jobs available locally.

•Goodwill Industries of Western New York – Western New York – $862,500: Goodwill's Goodskills Career Builder is a partner-driven career pipeline preparing people of color, people living in or near poverty, and un- or underemployed individuals for further training and career opportunities in the technology and manufacturing industries. Developed to meet industry-specific training needs, the program provides in-depth workforce readiness skills, certifications, career development and post-placement support for up to three years.

•Trocaire College – Western New York – $753,200: Trocaire's Jump Start Plus is a new program for un- and underemployed individuals that combines IT career exploration and work readiness training with technical instruction and IT certifications. Training will be broadly accessible with cohorts offered at partner sites throughout Buffalo and Lackawanna, and will provide 200 hours of technical skills training with industry-recognized certifications, tutoring, career coaching and mentorship.

•CaHill Resources – Western New York (primary), Central New York, Capital Region and Long Island – $751,211: CaHill's aQuiRe Construction Academy combines a digital training platform with hands-on learning, resulting in OSHA certifications, on-the-job training, mentorship from industry experts, and continued professional development for two years post-completion. The program will specifically target construction companies who are staffing up to meet the needs of infrastructure projects across the states. Expansion of the program to include wraparound services, especially mentorship, will help ensure diverse trainees are supported as they enter construction careers.

•BCAT: Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – Western New York – $750,000: BCAT will provide free tech training with NYSED-approved courses to marginalized individuals in Buffalo. Pathways include IT fundamentals, IT helpdesk technician, and IT security, all resulting in industry-recognized credentials. Students will receive a stipend during training and will have access to mental health and career counseling, tutoring, and nutritious meals to increase retention and completion.

•CanCode Communities – Capital Region and statewide – $678,027: CanCode Communities offers short-term, competency-based IT training with a mission to create a more inclusive, diverse tech talent pipeline across the state. Program curriculum is developed in collaboration with IT employers to provide the most relevant and necessary skills for IT careers across many industry sectors. The proposed growth of its trainee services team will create an increased capacity to recruit trainees, provide supports, and track programmatic successes as they continue to develop and expand their course offerings.

Workforce Development Capital Grant awardees include:

•SUNY Jamestown Community College – Western New York – $362,500 and $168,950: Jamestown Community College will enhance and expand its existing workforce development programs with two projects: an expansion of the existing industrial maintenance technician and machining programs; and the development of up to 14 new tech and manufacturing certificate pathways, to be designed with local industry partners and offered in three locations throughout the region. The program will provide trainees with industry-recognized credentials and soft-skills training, preparing graduates to fill the more than 1,000 manufacturing jobs available locally. These two capital projects will provide the necessary equipment needed for the two operating grant projects.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "Across the state, advanced manufacturing professionals are in high demand in a wide range of industries from ceramics to semiconductors. Thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul's ongoing commitment and dedication of funding toward workforce development, our SUNY campuses are meeting the needs of regional employers. We are thankful for the third-round investment in Jamestown Community College, which will expand its stellar industrial maintenance and machinery programs to prepare students including adult learners for successful careers."