4/15/2002Chamber Awarded $175,000 Workforce Development Grant
The Cortland County Chamber of Commerce has been awarded $175,000 to help youngsters gain real-world work experiences in occupations that are currently in high demand. Announced recently by Gov. George Pataki, the award is part of a $1.29 million Workforce Investment Act Youth Incentive Grant for Businesses. The Chamber is one of six organizations statewide to receive funding.
“We are committed to helping young New Yorkers gain valuable work experience that can place them on the path toward a bright future and a rewarding career,” Pataki said. “These grants will help to provide hundreds of young men and women with on-the-job training and exposure to a wide variety of promising career paths.”
The Chamber will administer the grant as part of a program consortia that includes the J.M. Murray Center, Cortland City Schools, the Cortland-Cayuga Youth Council, and the Cortland County Employment and Training office. A number of local business partners will also participate.
Beginning in July, the program will link youths who are often overlooked and tend to drop out of school to opportunities in career exploration that will prepare them to assume successful adult roles in the community. “This project will bring community employers together with agencies and schools to invest in Cortland’s youth,” said Chamber executive director Garry VanGorder. “We’re very happy to be involved and we thank Governor Pataki and the Department of Labor for making the project possible.” VanGorder also acknowledged the Murray Center staff, which drove the grant application process. “It’s a highly professional team and they deserve a load of credit for bringing this program to Cortland County,” he said.
Judy C. O’Brien, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services at the Murray Center, said the grant is an exciting opportunity for the Center to extend its services to Cortland County youths. “Through Employment Connection, the Center has a long history working with area businesses to successfully place people with disabilities and other barriers to employment into community jobs,” she said.
Particular program emphasis will be placed on exposing eligible youths to professionals who will work with them in shaping employment and career-related decisions. As a result of these grants being awarded, the Emerging Worker Subcommittee of the State Workforce Investment Board will review the progress of each individual program in hopes that these successes will be replicated in other areas of the state.
Other organizations receiving funding are the Greater New York Hospital Foundation, Inc., Long Island Works Coalition, Simon Properties (Rockland County), St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, and Wegmans Food Market, Inc. (Niagara County).