Fund Workforce Training Programs

Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new section 53 to read as follows:

§ 53. Strategic investment in workforce development. 1. Pursuant to this section there is hereby established within the corporation, the strategic investment in workforce development program to identify and address workforce needs throughout the state. The corporation shall collaborate with the department of labor, the department of economic development, the state university of New York, the city university of New York, and the state education department to provide support to eligible applicants within amounts available for the strategic investments in workforce development program and shall identify the training needs of employers, employees and prospective employees; identify areas of the state or specific industries where a shortage of a skilled workforce is impacting the ability of those areas of the state or industries to remain competitive and innovative; identify methods and models to train and employ youth workers; and identify ways to serve prospective employees that are currently unemployed or underemployed. The strategic investment in workforce development program shall utilize the information gathered to target workforce training activities, employment credentials or certificate opportunities, and skill development programs to meet the identified needs and to provide necessary training and skill

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD04870-01-9

A. 617 2

development programs to youth and individuals who are unemployed or underemployed.

2. Eligible applicants shall include an employer or consortium of employers in conjunction with a labor organization, a not-for-profit, an educational entity or a program or network that provides training and skill development for youth or individuals who are unemployed or underemployed. An entity that works directly with employers to provide training or retraining, particularly in high-skill occupations or industries, or an entity that seeks to promote and foster economic development and job growth shall also be considered an eligible applicant. Eligible applicants shall demonstrate a relationship with educational programs and entities that address the needs of employers, employees or prospective employees, particularly youth, unskilled workers, unemployed individuals or underemployed workers.

3. (a) Assistance provided by the corporation to eligible applicants, may be used for the costs associated with strategic workforce development training and skills development. Such costs may include, but is not limited to, classroom training, on the job training, curriculum development, and training materials associated with on the job training, skills upgrading, skills retraining, and basic skills training that leads to obtaining appropriate certifications or degrees from accredited institutions; and

(b) The corporation shall ensure that not less than twenty percent of the program funds are used in support of projects that assist small businesses as defined in section one hundred thirty-one of the economic development law and minority- and women-owned business enterprises.

4. (a) The corporation shall report to the legislature by June thirtieth, two thousand twenty and annually thereafter, identifying the entities receiving assistance, the type of assistance provided, the number of individuals trained and newly hired including those who were previously unemployed, underemployed or economically disadvantaged, and the number of certifications or degrees conferred from accredited institutions.

(b) The corporation shall also provide for an independent evaluation of the program on or before June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-one, and every three years thereafter.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2019.