Community Agencies to Receive Funding to Provide Career Exploration and Support Services
The Department of Labor announced that New York is investing more than $2.5 million in new initiatives to end violence and gang activity in upstate New York. Governor Cuomo announced availability of the funding for the City of Syracuse and the City of Albany in Fall 2018. The funding is being awarded to qualified not-for-profit and charitable organizations in targeted areas of the state to provide education and employment services to help at-risk youth succeed in life and avoid both victimization by, and involvement with, criminal activity.
Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “The Department of Labor is thrilled to be a part of this initiative. Despite record-low overall unemployment rates, youth unemployment continues to be an issue. Unemployment is much higher for workers age 16 to 24, and these grants will go a long way towards helping to remedy that for a group of young people who really need the help.”
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding will be awarded by the New York State Department of Labor. Selected programs will offer opportunities for constructive community engagement designed to decrease juvenile delinquency and justice system involvement. The funds will support serving youth who are authorized to work (or otherwise able to obtain authorization to work), are at least 14 years old but younger than 22 years old at the time of program enrollment, and are attending, enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in school, and reside in the City of Albany or Syracuse, NY.
Award Information:
City of Syracuse: $1,702,497 will benefit 590 youth | ||
Organization | Amount Awarded | # of youth to be served |
People’s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. | $240,484 | 140 |
ARISE Child and Family Service Inc. | $262,014 | 200 |
Refugee & Immigrant Self Empowerment Inc. | $300,000 | 50 |
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection | $299,999 | 100 |
Syracuse City School District | $300,000 | 50 |
CNY Works, Inc. | $300,000 | 50 |
Total | 1,702,497 | 590 |
City of Albany: $841,704 will benefit 162 youth | ||
Organization | Amount Awarded | # of youth to be served |
Equinox, Inc. | $300,000 | 22 |
St. Anne Institute | $241,704 | 110 |
City of Albany Department of Youth and Workforce Services | $300,000 | 30 |
Total | $841,704 | 162 |
Division of Criminal Justice Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green added by saying, “We applaud the Department of Labor for this investment that will connect at-risk youth to academic and career services to engage them in being productive members of their communities with bright futures ahead. New York has the lowest index crime rate of all large states in the country, and we have also seen record lows in homicides for the last two years. DCJS promotes evidence-based strategies to assist our local partners in reducing shootings and violent crime in our urban centers. This effort by the Department of Labor will complement our work, particularly as part of GIVE and SNUG, to make Albany and Syracuse safer by identifying and supporting at-risk youth.”