11 Projects Across the State Will Leverage More Than $16.2 Million in Public/Private Funding to Support More Than 1,700 Trainees for Over 60 Business Partners
Launch of Improved Guidelines Will Streamline Awards Process and Scale Best Practices Across the State – Read Guidelines Here and Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development has awarded an additional $8.7 million in grants to 11 projects across the state through the Workforce Development Capital and Pay for Performance Operating Grant Programs. These grants will support the training of almost 1,700 workers through collaboration between training providers and more than 60 employer partners in fields like construction, industrial manufacturing, renewable energy and software engineering. The Office, which operates under Empire State Development, is charged with supporting industry-driven workforce development programs and practices to ensure New Yorkers have the skills to meet the needs of employers in the state's fastest growing industries.
“New York is making sure that the State is well prepared with the talent and workforce of the future,” Governor Hochul said. “This latest round of strategic workforce development grants will continue our mission to ensure that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to gain skills need by top employers, especially those who have been traditionally left behind.”
These fifth and sixth rounds of awards from the Office of Strategic Workforce Development brings the total investments from six rounds to nearly $40 million that will leverage more than $50 million in public and private funding and support 12,000 trainees for over 460 business partners.
The grants awarded to 11 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 supports the capital needs of workforce training providers that seek to enhance or expand their offerings. The $115 million Pay for Performance (P4P) Operating Grant Program has flexible funding to help providers cover programmatic expenses like curriculum development and wraparound services to prepare New Yorkers with in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials. These grant programs allow workforce training providers to expand the capacity of successful programs with high placement rates and effective wraparound services.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We believe that investing in workforce development is the key to economic development because employers continuously cite a well-trained workforce as one of their top priorities. Our Office of Strategic Workforce Development will continue to invest in high-quality, employer-driven programs that produce top notch talent, which adds to the many attributes New York State has when attracting companies.”