U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $18.6 Million to Boost Construction and Transportation Workforce Training in New York City Through American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding an $18.6 million American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant to City of New York Human Resources Administration, New York, to create NYC Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers, a workforce development program for the local building and construction and transportation, distribution, and logistics industries.

This program will bridge the gap between employers seeking a diverse workforce and individuals reliant on local public assistance systems, by supporting recruitment and training efforts to place New Yorkers into good-paying union jobs.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to creating new opportunities for American workers, while providing a strong workforce for American industries,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Through partnerships with local labor and education organizations, this program creates a pipeline of workers to support New York’s building and construction, transportation, distribution, and logistics industries and provides pathways to quality jobs for New York residents.”

“The Good Jobs Challenge is creating new access to employment by reaching previously underserved communities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This program is focused on supporting individuals reliant on local public assistance and providing the training and skills needed to secure a good-paying, union job.”

“I am proud I fought for EDA funding in the American Rescue Plan to support local economic recovery across New York and the country,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “This major federal investment will expand access to good-paying, union jobs in New York City through training for in-demand jobs in industries like construction and transportation. I’ll continue fighting for New York’s local industries and to create job opportunities for New Yorkers.”

“The NYC Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers program will create a pipeline to train overlooked talent in underserved communities and connect them with job opportunities available throughout New York City,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This program will not only provide access to good-paying union jobs to New Yorkers in most need, as well as diversify the talent pool for potential employers, but it will arm our future transportation, infrastructure and logistics workforce with the necessary tools to thrive within the industry.”

This grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge. The program awarded grants to 32 worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships across the country. The $500 million program is expanding opportunities for more Americans to access and secure good-paying jobs by investing in innovative approaches to advance worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships.

The 32 awardee projects were selected from a competitive pool of 509 applicants. By partnering with stakeholders such as labor unions, community colleges and industry, these projects will solve for local talent needs, increase the supply of trained workers and help workers secure jobs in 15 key industries that are essential to U.S. supply chains, global competitiveness, and regional development. Through a holistic, integrated partnership approach, these projects will provide tangible opportunities and security for American workers, focusing on serving and supporting a broad range of underserved communities and connecting workers with the training, skills, and support services needed to successfully secure a good job. For more information on the grantees, please visit our fact sheet. (PDF)

The Good Jobs Challenge is part of a suite of American Rescue Plan programs developed by EDA to equitably distribute its $3 billion allocation to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build a better America by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be more resilient to future economic shocks.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.