SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $5.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ROCHESTERWORKS TO COMBAT LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT – FUNDS WILL HELP CONNECT ROCHESTER- FINGER LAKES RESIDENTS WHO ARE READY-TO-WORK WITH READY-TO-BE-FILLED JOBS

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that RochesterWorks, Inc. in Rochester will receive $5,189,848 in federal funds to help Rochester-Finger Lakes residents struggling with long-term unemployment find middle-high skilled jobs. These funds will be allocated through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Ready to Work Partnership, which supports collaborations between employers, non-profit organizations and job-training programs in order to connect Americans who are ready to work with jobs that are ready to be filled. RochesterWorks! will utilize these funds for three major initiatives. First, RochesterWorks! will use these funds for outreach and recruitment so that it may better connect workers with the kinds of organizations that are looking to hire. Second, RochesterWorks! will provide training and support services to people who are unemployed but require retraining for jobs in information technology, advanced manufacturing, health care and other high-demand industries. Finally, RochesterWorks! will implement and further develop strategies to increase the number of middle- and high-skilled job placements it helps to support. RochesterWorks! is one of only 23 organizations nationwide to receive funding through the prestigious Ready to Work initiative. These funds are intended to serve residents in Rochester, Greece, Canandaigua, Geneva, and Batavia.

“Rochester-Finger Lakes residents who have received pink slips, after sometimes working for 20 years or more, know all too well that retraining and support services are crucial in order to hone the skills needed to get back into the workforce. This over $5 million in federal funding will now make it possible for RochesterWorks to provide retraining to more people and increase its recruitment and placement efforts that are helping those who have been laid off get back on their feet,” said Senator Schumer. “People who are struggling with long-term unemployment can now receive both the additional support services and the skills needed to move forward with confidence to the next opportunity. I will continue to fight for this kind of funding, which is a major investment in the people and workforce of Rochester.”

“Every American citizen deserves an opportunity to work in this country,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This investment in RochesterWorks will support retraining and job search services for local Rochester-Finger Lakes residents, so they can earn good-paying jobs and keep them for years to come. This important investment is a step forward that can help those who have been unemployed get back on their feet, enhancing their quality of life and helping them reach their full potential.”

RochesterWorks! helps job seekers find jobs, move to higher paying jobs or get training to improve skills. RochesterWorks! assists businesses with recruitment, assessment, placement and training, and connects them to all federally funded employment and training programs in Monroe County. Services are available at two convenient full service Career Centers at 255 North Goodman Street and 276 Waring Road in Rochester. Services are free of charge.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Ready to Work Partnership grants are a part of an administration-wide effort to address the ongoing issue of long-term unemployment. All of the grantees must demonstrate strong partnerships with local employers and industry groups that offer work-based training opportunities, such as paid internships, on-the-job training or registered apprenticeships. Work-based training will allow long-term unemployed individuals to fill in gaps of employment in their resumes, gain first-hand experience with an employer and establish a direct link to permanent employment. For more information, visit: http://www.doleta.gov/readytowork/.

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