Mayor Adams Announces Major Investment in NYC Workers and Employers, new Approach to Talent and Workforce Development with $18.6 Million Federal Grant

August 15, 2022

Video available at: https://youtu.be/QbjwGJ5bqJ8

Mayor Signs Executive Order to Further Empower Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, Convene Future of Workers Task Force  

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the launch of New York City Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers (PINCC), an innovative new talent development initiative that will help place nearly 2,300 low-income New Yorkers on the trajectory to careers in two high-growth sectors of the city’s economy over the next three years. Formalized in Executive Order 22, the program will be funded with an $18.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in response to New York City’s winning proposal to the Good Jobs Challenge created under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.  

Targeted to serve cash assistance recipients and public housing residents, PINCC creates training pathways and provides wraparound support up to and beyond job placement, offering life-changing opportunities to New Yorkers.  

“All New Yorkers deserve to earn a living wage and share in our city’s prosperity, and that’s why I’m proud to announce the Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers,” said Mayor Adams. “With the support of an $18.6 million federal grant, we are taking major steps towards making sure that thousands of New Yorkers have access to jobs that they can support a family with, while giving our city’s employers access to the talent they need to thrive. This is a dynamic new approach to workforce development and a major shift from the previous way jobseekers and employers were served. And this isn’t just about a single program — we are applying this same philosophy to revolutionize our approach to talent development in New York City by signing an executive order to streamline the efforts of nearly two dozen city agencies and offices that administer these programs. Lives will be changed because of this work and employers will be provided with a strong talent pipeline needed to grow.” 

“Talent is and has always been this city’s most important asset,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “This executive order empowers the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development to convene the whole of city government and local industry behind a single vision: A city where all New Yorkers can access good jobs and careers, and where business can access the talent they need, in the most vibrant economy in this country.” 

“New York City deserves a workforce that reflects the diversity of its people,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “With the signing of this executive order, we move one step closer to building a more equitable, fairer workforce that meets the pressing economic needs of our time while prioritizing inclusivity.” 

“Every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to work,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Today’s PINCC announcement puts forward another supportive option for those interested in industrial and construction careers. Furthermore, the efficiencies announced under the executive order will streamline sector engagement and is inclusive of an increasing health care workforce that is so critical for the city’s wellbeing today and into the future. I look forward to continuing work with HRA, OTWD, and all parties involved to enable every New Yorker the chance to be a part of the city’s economy.” 

“Our economic recovery and future prosperity depend on the diverse talents of all New Yorkers connecting to and helping to create opportunity,” said Abby Jo Sigal, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “Talent is New York City’s most important resource, and what makes our city great. The signing of the executive order, convening the Future of Workers Taskforce, and implementing PINCC are the critical first steps to building a citywide strategy to fully tap this talent so that every New Yorker can contribute to an inclusive, thriving economy. "  

This initiative helps set the stage for the Adams administration’s newly announced citywide talent development strategy, set forth in Executive Order 22. The goal is to create a city where all young people launch successfully into fulfilling careers, all New Yorkers benefit from a living wage and contribute to the city’s shared prosperity, employers tap local talent, and public and private resources are fully aligned.  

PINCC engages through all three phases of the employment cycle: recruitment and training, job placement, retention, and advancement. The program projects to train nearly 2,300 New Yorkers and help place them in high-wage and/or unionized jobs with benefits in roles like diesel mechanic, general utility worker, tradesperson, or construction project manager.   

Participants will be targeted for specific interest in construction and industrial careers, matched with training appropriate for their skills and ambitions, and placed and provided ongoing support through an extensive set of employer relationships. Key partners on PINCC include two “catalyst” organizations: the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development and the nonprofit Consortium for Worker Education. Both organizations will engage with employers, while the New York City Human Resources Administration will be responsible for recruiting participants.   

“This administration’s visionary workforce development plan prioritizes opportunity for historically underserved communities and commits to creating and preserving an equitable and inclusive job market for all New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “These vital investments and strategic initiatives will connect countless low-income New Yorkers to meaningful employment opportunities and the job-readiness supports they need and deserve to successfully participate in the economy. We are grateful to the mayor and our agency partners for truly recognizing that the growth of these long-overlooked communities is critical to a brighter future for New York City.” 

“Developing and strengthening the talent pool in New York City is essential to our city’s economic recovery,” said New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “Through our 18 Workforce1 centers, SBS is committed to supporting the strongest possible workforce of the future.” 

“The Pathways to Industrial and Constructions Careers will transform the way New Yorkers begin building careers in the industrial and construction fields,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “I applaud Mayor Adams for spearheading this initiative that will be crucial to equitably rebuilding New York City’s economy. NYCEDC is pleased to support the preparation of the next generation of young New Yorkers in these professional careers.” 

“Together, with initiatives like PINCC, we are creating the foundation for our city’s equitable economic recovery,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Holistic integration of essential services, like education about worker’s rights and financial education into talent development will have a powerful impact on the lives of New Yorkers, while also creating a new pool of talent for our city’s businesses. We are eager to participate in the interagency cabinet and support this invaluable work.”  

“As an agency that oversees workforce initiatives, including the Summer Youth Employment Program, we know the value of that first job and giving young people the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to find work and build careers, said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “DYCD is proud to be part of this effort and looks forward to working with the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development to help ensure that Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers and other work-focused initiatives are a huge success.” 

“The jobs that help to build and maintain the city’s vast water systems and those that will ‘green’ our building stock to help fight climate change are absolutely essential to the future of the city,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “We want our workforce to reflect every neighborhood across the five boroughs and we welcome the opportunity to connect with those who are seeking the type of family-supporting and satisfying careers that we offer.”  

“We applaud Mayor Eric Adams for his leadership in supporting the next generation of young professionals,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “The DOT is constantly looking to attract new and diverse talent to our agency. We will continue to work with Mayor Adams to ensure we’re cultivating homegrown talent into the city’s workforce.”  

“The construction industry offers stable careers across a wide variety of jobs and is always seeking qualified construction managers and skilled tradespeople,” said Eric Macfarlane, first deputy commissioner, New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC). “DDC, through its Office of Diversity and Industry Relations, has numerous programs to nurture emerging construction firms and connect jobseekers in the industry to employment opportunities. We look forward to working with the Office of Talent and Workforce Development to develop more comprehensive methods of directing people to these opportunities for a lucrative and rewarding career.” 

“With today’s announcements, Mayor Adams has placed New York City at the leading edge of the national workforce conversation,” said David Fischer, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment. “PINCC represents an unprecedented holistic approach to supporting low-income jobseekers toward career success and economic security. The executive order will align and streamline how the city delivers training and employment services. And the Future of Workers Task Force will ensure that the best minds of the field deeply inform strategy, policy, and programming over the years to come.” 

“We are thrilled to be part of this innovative partnership that will help traditionally underserved New Yorkers enter into careers with real potential for good wages and advancement,” said Carson Hicks, acting executive director, Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “Our research has consistently shown that industry-focused workforce initiatives can produce the best results for job seekers and, coupled with funding for needed supports and bridge programming, we expect this initiative to be successful in launching participants into quality employment opportunities that can help families achieve self-sufficiency.”    

To further develop the talent and workforce development strategy citywide, the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development will convene all city agencies and offices that operate programs related to talent and workforce development in designing a coherent system that will better serve jobseekers, students, incumbent workers, employers, and communities.  

Additionally, Executive Order 22 will more effectively align the nearly two dozen city agencies and offices that administer workforce training and job placement programs. The new approach will integrate the city’s historically siloed education institutions, including the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and The City University of New York (CUNY). The Office of Talent and Workforce Development Interagency Cabinet will coordinate operations, prepare an annual plan with clear objectives, define key performance indicators, and measure progress against goals.   

The order will also create a Future of Workers Task Force to consider and inform every aspect of the city’s strategy for empowering New Yorkers to secure and succeed in family-sustaining careers. To be staffed by the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development — in partnership with CUNY and the DOE — employers and other key stakeholders will leverage the vision and momentum generated by the task force into a road map for significant systems change.  

"I'm proud to see our administration make strides towards the bright north star that is long term economic security and broadened career opportunities for all New Yorkers," said DOE Chancellor David Banks, co-chair, Future of Workers Task Force. "Growing professionally should not be isolated to specific times in your life, and the partnership between our K-12 public schools, higher education, and employers is absolutely critical to seeing our young people thrive economically. What our children can achieve is unlimited if we help activate their passions throughout their life. Thank you to Mayor Adams for continuing to prioritize this important work."   

“By creating new pathways to quality jobs for low-income New Yorkers, Mayor Adams’s newest initiative will help ensure that New York’s post-pandemic recovery reaches those communities that have too often been left behind,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, co-chair,Future of Workers Task Force. “CUNY is proud to play a leading role in equipping New Yorkers with the skills and preparation employers want and New York City needs. We thank the mayor for his leadership and support.” 

“This initiative is an important step in bringing high quality jobs to all New Yorkers,” said Carmine Di Sibio, co-chair, Future of Workers Task Force; CEO, EY. “Combining the expertise of the public, private, and non-profit sectors to jointly work on this issue will reap benefits for job seekers across the city as well as employers who are looking for talent. As a New York area native, I know the importance of creating opportunities for our citizens, and as a CEO, I know the needs of employers for a skilled workforce. I look forward to working with the mayor and fellow co-chairs to make an impact in this important enterprise.” 

“The Future of Workers Taskforce and the mayor’s executive order signals a new approach to how we as public and private sector leaders can braid together all of our resources to realign education, training, and workplace learning so all New Yorkers have the competencies, qualifications, and connections to thrive,” said Lisette Nieves, co-chair, Future of Workers Task Force; president, Fund for the City of New York. “I am honored to serve alongside my committed and experienced co-chairs to work with the mayor and his team to advance the public and private partnerships, fresh thinking, and evidence driven approaches required to realize this vision.” 

“I am honored to be selected to co-chair Mayor Adams’ Future of Workers Task Force,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, co-chair, Future of Workers Task Force; president, Goodwill NYNJ. I am eager to be the non-profit voice alongside education and business in the task force to implement and make a reality an intentional, equitable, accessible, and comprehensive economic recovery plan, centered on working New Yorkers, who are the driving force of our economy and communities. Goodwill NYNJ is one of the city's larger non-profits that connects thousands of unemployed, underemployed, and people with disabilities to work because we believe in never leaving talent on the sidelines. Only working together, we can rebuild, renew, and reinvent the economy of our city.” 

The executive order will finally:  

• Create a citywide, cross-agency plan on talent and workforce development, which will be prepared and presented to the mayor annually.  
• Develop a talent portal dashboard to show progress citywide.  
• Consolidate the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment and the implementation of the Project Labor Agreements/Community Hiring into Office of Talent and Workforce Development.  
• Empower the Office of Talent and Workforce Development to manage and make recommendations for the appointments to the Workforce Development Board.   
• Four of the city’s current industry partnerships - healthcare, technology, construction, and manufacturing - which currently report to Small Business Services, will formally join the Office of Talent and Workforce Development to help develop and advance the citywide strategy. 

“One of the first hearings held this session by the Committee on Oversight and Investigations, which I chair, was focused on the city’s siloed workforce development programs,” said New York City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer. “I am encouraged by the administration’s response to this topic and look forward to the benefits of further investment in training initiatives. Cooperation between government and nonprofits is pivotal to a successful and equitable transition to a digital economy.”  

“As we strive for a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its corresponding economic impacts, I support the launch of Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers by the mayor at Bronx Community College,” said New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez. “PINCC was awarded $18.6 million in grant funding from the federal government to invest in our most vulnerable New Yorkers by providing training, job placement services and supporting advancement in the new career pathways. This investment in the future of New Yorkers will create over 2,000 new careers in high wage or unionized jobs. We look forward to working with our agency and organizational partners in the recruitment of program participants” 
  
“The PINCC initiative will help thousands of New Yorkers prepare for jobs in the post-pandemic economy,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City.  “We are excited to see this infusion of federal funding supplement the significant investments and policy commitments Mayor Adams has made since taking office to close the skills gap and increase economic opportunity.”  

“As critical investment continues to be made in public works and development projects throughout New York City, creating an adequately trained and refined workforce is paramount for making these ventures successful and driving forward sustainable economic growth that provides good paying jobs and uplifts New York’s hard-working people,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “The Good Jobs Challenge will play a crucial role in creating that pathway for tradesmen and tradeswomen to pursue middle class careers with benefits through union membership and apprenticeship programs. We look forward to supporting this initiative and the development of a world-class workforce that will be at the forefront of rebuilding New York into a global leader in development and modern infrastructure.” 

“On behalf of the affiliates of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, I’d like to commend the City of New York for leading this successful Good Jobs Challenge grant application,” said Vincent Alvarez, president, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “By partnering with the Building and Construction Trades, AFSCME DC 37, TWU Local 100 and the Consortium for Worker Education, the city is acknowledging the role organized labor plays in providing lifelong opportunity, safe and dignified working conditions, superior wages, family supporting benefits and pay equity for all. We thank Mayor Adams and his agency leaders for forging this powerful partnership.” 

“The Consortium for Worker Education is thrilled to partner with Mayor Adams to launch PINCC,” said John McDermott, director of strategic partnerships, Consortium for Worker Education. “This project supports the CWE’s core mission of providing New York City’s workers pathways to high-wage careers in union jobs. In its powerful partnership of city agencies, unions, employers, and educational institutions, PINCC also provides a blueprint for the city’s new approach to delivering workforce services for families and communities.”  

“The Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers Program will provide great career-track opportunities for communities of color in New York,” said Joe Azzopardi, business manager and secretary treasurer, District Council 9 of Painters and Allied Trades. “We thank President Biden and his administration for awarding New York City with this vital grant and look forward to working with Mayor Adams and communities across New York City as we continue to revitalize our city and build a pathway to the middle class for many New Yorkers.”  

“The Future of Workers Task Force will help accelerate the New York Jobs Council’s mission of connecting 100,000 low-income New Yorkers with in-demand careers.  A strong partnership between the public and private sector is critical to achieving scale and sustainable change,” said Kiersten Barnet, executive director, NY Jobs CEO Council. “The future of work is not something that happens, it’s something we build. This results-oriented taskforce aligns with the New York Jobs CEO Council’s mission to ensure that future is equitable, inclusive, and one where every New Yorker has a pathway to a family-sustaining job.” 

“Hard working, highly skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen are at the core of successful public works projects,” said Nicole Bertrán, executive vice president, The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills. “Investments in the Apprenticeship Readiness Collective (ARC) programs preparing New York City residents for these roles unleash the economic growth that these projects create. ARC programs help New Yorkers enter union apprenticeships and with significant funding from the American Rescue Plan, the Good Jobs Challenge will contribute to a highly skilled workforce. These opportunities are life changing.”   

"NEW recognizes this moment as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for women in the trades,” said Kathleen Culhane, president, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW). Now more than ever, government infrastructure projects are prioritizing inclusion, equity, and diversity, with a clear focus on construction and hiring from local communities. Skilled construction careers are life-sustaining, family-sustaining, and transformative. The Good Jobs Challenge funding will allow Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) to train more tradeswomen and means New York City's workforce will be ready to fill skilled construction jobs more quickly - a rapidly growing industry. Mayor Adams’ focus on workforce and talent development will further support NEW's mission to place women in high-quality careers in the skilled construction, green, utility, and maintenance trades, helping Black and brown women achieve economic independence and a secure future for themselves and their families.”  

“Mayor Adams’ executive order today is a crucial step toward New York City bringing a renewed focus to strengthening our workforce development community in connecting New Yorkers to living wage careers and supporting businesses critically in need of local talent,” said Annie Garneva, interim CEO, New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “It will take a shared vision and commitment to bring about the systemic changes that New Yorkers urgently deserve, including transparency, accountability, and collaboration at every level. Our coalition of more than 200 workforce organizations is eager to be a part of this new chapter for the city, which is rightfully committed to improving programs and creating more high-quality access points for job seekers and creators alike.” 

"This award is a victory for our members and the City of New York. A workforce development strategy that creates a path toward upward mobility has been our priority,” said Henry Garrido executive director, District Council 37 AFSCME. “We look forward to working with the city to recruit program participants and customize training opportunities that will place skilled workers in the construction and industrial sectors that desperately need them."    

“Henry Street Settlement applauds Mayor Adams and his administration for their commitment to elevating workforce development in our city at a time when it is desperately needed,” said David Garza, president and CEO, Henry Street Settlement. “With a 130-year history of helping New Yorkers move out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency, we understand the importance of meaningful attachment to economic opportunity. Achieving the inclusivity and economic vitality that the city deserves requires the involvement and alignment of multiple stakeholders including those in economic development, big and small businesses, jobseekers, workforce services providers, the education system, and larger communities. In a city as dynamic as New York, only that constellation working together will ensure the creation of needed opportunities for our most vulnerable residents, like the thousands of participants the settlement serves. Our workforce development system must be cohesive, transparent, accountable, and accessible, and the mayor’s executive order moves it in the right direction, so that when workers walk through open doors, they will find a system that is resourced and effective so that it works for everyone.” 

"P2A is proud to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development to successfully implement the community hiring goals set out in the Project Labor Agreement and continue to grow pathways into middle class building trades careers for justice-involved and low-income communities,” said Mike Hellstrom, president, Pathways to Apprenticeship (P2A). “With Mayor Adam’s support, the good jobs challenge can be a model for the transformational power of local hire when tied to union jobs.” 

"Thank you to Mayor Adams and his administration for focusing on workforce development,” said Wayne Ho, president and CEO, Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). “This is an important issue for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. For example, over 70% of CPC's community members lost their jobs or had work hours reduced due to the pandemic. We look forward to working with the Mayor's Office to ensure that AAPI and immigrant communities are meaningfully included in these efforts and that high-quality, fully funded workforce development programs are available for New Yorkers of all backgrounds."  

“The New York City Workforce Development Fund is thrilled that New York City’s Human Resources Administration won this highly competitive, nearly $19 million award. Thanks to this investment, thousands of low-income New Yorkers will prepare for and secure good-paying jobs in the construction, transportation, distribution, and logistics sectors,” said Roderick Jenkins, program director, The New York Community Trust; co-chair, City Workforce Funders Collaborative and Cass Conrad, executive director, The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation New York; co-chair City Workforce Funders Collaborative, “This award will meet the needs of industry, build equitable career pathways for jobseekers, and is a welcome investment in New York City’s economic recovery.” 

“The Future of Workers Taskforce is critical for our city to create an equitable talent system to ensure New Yorkers and our business community have access and opportunity to the right talent at the right point time with the right skills to propel our city and its communities upward economically with the high quality of life all New Yorkers deserve,” said Angie Kamath, dean, NYU School of Professional Studies. “In partnership with the Adams administration, New York City’s higher education institutions can expand on the critical role we play in providing pathways to fulfilling, economically secure careers to reach significantly more New York residents and employers.”  

“On behalf of our returning Veterans, Reservists & National Guardsmen and women, NY Helmets to Hardhats is thrilled to participate in the Good Jobs Challenge,” said Anne Trenkle, executive director, NY Helmets to Hardhats. This will offer entry into life changing, family sustaining Union apprenticeship opportunities. We look forward to working alongside our partners to provide economic mobility & security for the next generation.”  

“We’re absolutely thrilled that New York City won this prestigious grant,” said Anthony Utano, president, Transport Workers Local 100. “We have been partnering with the Consortium for Worker Education for nearly 20 years, and we know that this new funding will result in real economic progress for members of our communities and their families. More men and women will receive training necessary to get good union jobs, and more transit workers in TWU Local 100 will get training to improve on their existing skills and secure promotions. Simply put, this is a very good development for blue-collar New York.” 

"Workforce gaps are among the most pressing challenges for The Bronx residents, who experienced the state's highest unemployment rate at 8.6%,” said Dr. Meisha Porter, CEO, The Bronx Community Foundation. “Executive Order 22 is welcome news for all the people of the borough, and we congratulate Mayor Adams and the Office for Talent and Workforce Development on this important initiative. The Bronx Community Foundation is uniquely focused on eradicating inequity and building sustainable futures for all Bronxites. We look forward to working with the Adams Administration to tackle employment barriers so that all people can achieve their full potential." 

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