Officials from the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) on Monday visited the Foodlink Community Cafe to announce a series of local grant awards for NYSDOL-supported apprenticeship programs. Commissioner Roberta Reardon is touring the state this week as part of National Apprenticeship Week — with Rochester as her first stop.
Reardon announced the allocation of $1,072,000 in workforce development grants to boost skills training and employment opportunities in the Finger Lakes. Foodlink’s award for both its pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship portions of the Foodlink Career Fellowship was $462,000. These grants are part of a larger $7 million statewide initiative directly supporting businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits in delivering high-quality training programs which focus on enhancing job readiness, closing skills gaps, and promoting career advancement. The awards also focus on programming that will help New Yorkers in disadvantaged communities, particularly the unemployed, underemployed, veterans, low-income residents and others facing employment barriers.
“These grants represent our commitment to strengthening the Finger Lakes’ workforce by providing opportunities for skill development and job advancement,” Reardon said. “By investing in training and education, we are not only supporting individual career growth but also addressing critical workforce needs across the state. This funding will have a profound impact on both our communities and our economy, ensuring that New York remains competitive and prosperous.”
The NYSDOL funding will help support the Foodlink Career Fellowship — Foodlink’s unique culinary training apprenticeship that just welcomed its 9th and 10th classes this fall. The Fellowship helps meet local workforce demands while providing apprentices with valuable certifications and career mobility in the hospitality sector.
Other local grantees included: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester Tooling and Machining Institute (RTMI)/Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA), NYSARC Ontario County Chapter, and Ideal Manufacturing Inc.
“This funding is critical to building up a strong workforce in New York State,” Scannell said. “This is an opportunity to build up middle and higher skilled workers and it has a ripple effect. We see that through the folks who come through our program — and how it impacts their families.”
