SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CNY Works’ Syracuse Build Pathways to Apprenticeship program will use a $1 million state grant to expand its current access, capacity, and programming.
The effort seeks to prepare more “diverse” Syracuse residents for construction careers in the union building trades and to meet the increased local demand for skilled tradespeople as a result of large-scale projects.
Those projects include the upcoming Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) semiconductor campus in Clay, and the Interstate 81 viaduct-replacement project.
Participants are paid for every hour in the program and graduate into state-registered union apprenticeships where they can further develop their careers.
The funding for CNY Works is a Pay for Performance (P4P) grant awarded in the third round of grant announcements from the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development.
It was part of nearly $11 million in grants to 17 projects through the third round of the Workforce Development Capital and Pay for Performance grant programs, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced June 28.
The New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development, which operates under Empire State Development, awarded the funding.
The $11 million in 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 (information technology), renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, broadband and construction.
“Successful economic development is built by a well-skilled and well-prepared labor force,” Hope Knight, president, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development, said in the news release. “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.”