Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program seeks applicants for training

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Interested Syracuse residents can apply for the third group of Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program.

Applications will be accepted from now through Feb. 24.

So far, a total of 30 Syracuse residents have graduated from the paid, 11-week program. The apprenticeship readiness-training program focuses on preparing women, people of color, and veterans to help them secure spots in the Building Trades’ registered-apprenticeship programs.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, CenterState CEO and other community partners are backing the program, CenterState CEO said in a news release.

“We are excited to continue the successful Pathways to Apprenticeship program,” Chris Montgomery, director of Syracuse Build, said. “We have seen incredible interest from the community in this program and know that participants are becoming better prepared for well-paying careers. The success we have seen is the direct result of partners who have been engaged and focused on ensuring this program achieves its goals for both individuals and employers.”

Information sessions for applicants to the Pathways to Apprenticeship program will be held virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays between Jan. 11 and Feb. 24. Candidates will be notified April 15 if they are accepted to the program and will begin May 2.

Applications are available through this link.

To meet the minimum requirements, applicants must be 18 years or older; live in the city of Syracuse; desire a career in construction; be authorized to work in the U.S.; have a high school diploma or equivalent; be able to read, write, and speak English for training and safety purposes; and be physically capable to do construction work, CenterState CEO said.

More about the program

All graduates are now in the process of applying to apprenticeship programs or jobs in the construction field.

Throughout the Pathways to Apprenticeship program, participants have learned the necessary physical and technical skills to be competitive and successfully apply to a registered union apprenticeship.

Entering a union-sponsored registered apprenticeship can be competitive; throughout the program, participants received “exclusive” networking opportunities with local trade unions and coaching and preparation for the registered apprenticeship application process.

Syracuse Build is a community initiative that Mayor Walsh launched to support local construction activity by connecting job seekers from Syracuse’s “historically marginalized” communities with career pathways in construction-related fields.

Syracuse Build’s goal is to align local government, unions, anchor institutions, and construction firms in a network of community, training, and workforce partners.

Work Train at CenterState CEO serves as an intermediary, bringing resources and partners to develop both the Syracuse Build initiative and the Pathways to Apprenticeship program.

Funding for the Pathways program comes from a number of community partners, including the City of Syracuse; Greater Syracuse HOPE; Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative; North America’s Building Trade Unions; Central New York Community Foundation; United Way of Central New York; New York State Department of Labor; and the Alliance for Economic Inclusion.