Workforce Development Board, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Counties, Inc. 

This program has ended. Please contact us at 315-207-6951 or by using the Contact Form on this page to see if you are eligible for other supports or services

“Building a Safer New York.”

New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is partnering with Local Workforce Development Areas to provide job training, credentialing and placement in good-paying jobs to approximately 3,200 young workers, at least 75% of whom must reside in zip codes impacted by high rates of gun violence.

In addition to each area’s existing referral network, youth will be referred by trusted community service providers with priority given to referrals from gun violence interveners and other anti-gun violence advocacy organizations.

This initiative treats gun violence as a public health crisis and includes short-term solutions as well as long-term strategies that focus on community-based intervention and prevention strategies to break the cycle of violence.

Eligibility for Program Participants

The Program will serve unemployed, under-employed and out-of-school youth between age 18 and 24 in areas of cities impacted by gun violence. Youth must reside in the city of Utica.

Services for Youth

• Aptitude and skill assessment.
• Skill-building courses.
• Career counseling –as necessary baseline services for placement into skills training and employment.
• Work with participants to identify skill and education gaps.
• Assess and make any needed referrals to external providers including: housing, legal and/or substance abuse issues, benefit programs, financial assistance, etc.
• Connect youth to comprehensive and customized occupational training and will include literacy, job-specific skills, professional credentials, business-relevant computer literacy, high-tech and job preparation workforce services.
• Provide access to pre-apprenticeship programs for entrance into apprenticeship training for a specified trade.
• Provide job placement services to youth who are job-ready and once youth complete training. This will include placement into Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Please Note: We cannot fund or provide services to any male over the age of 18 who has not registered for selective service.