Senator Larkin Highlights Investments from NYS Budget to Prepare Workers for Successful Careers

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C-I, Cornwall-On-Hudson) announced today that the recently passed New York State budget provides important investments in job training and workforce development initiatives.  These programs will ensure that New Yorkers can enhance their job skills, provide a pathway for new opportunities, financial security and career success.

“People always talk about creating jobs but without appropriate investments in workforce development those jobs often go to individuals outside of our own communities,” said Senator Bill Larkin.  “Focusing on initiatives that will prepare local workers with the tools and training they need is vital to ensure that when jobs are created they stay right here in the Hudson Valley.”

Specific highlights from the budget include:

·        $5 million for the Next Generation Job Linkage Program that assists employers in identifying potential jobs, defining their necessary skills and providing employees with the appropriate training;

·        $5 million for the SUNY/CUNY Apprentice Initiative, a targeted training initiative that helps employers refine the skills of new hires and enables more experienced employees the chance to upgrade their skills;

·        $4 million for the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), a highly successful not-for-profit that works with businesses and the AFL-CIO to provide focused training for workers and for workforce transition support to help stop the outsourcing of jobs to other states. An additional $3 million is also provided for WDI’s Manufacturing Initiative;

·        $3.6 million for Business and Community College Partnerships that support innovative, specifically-tailored workforce training programs coordinated between individual businesses and community colleges; and

·        Increased support for Early College High Schools to help prepare students for college-level coursework that promotes future academic performance and enables students to get their high school diplomas while also earning free associate degrees for high-skilled jobs or taking other college credit-bearing courses.

 

###