On Friday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $4.2 million in funding from the first round of the Western New York Workforce Development Challenge has been awarded to six western New York not-for-profit organizations. Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES was among those awarded and received a WDC award in the amount of $504,877 for their Health Careers Academy & Training Center.

The money will be used to prepare students going into the health field.

Sen. Catharine Young said, “The health care field has surpassed manufacturing and retail sectors to become the largest source of jobs in the United States labor market. With the aging of the population, this momentum is poised to not only continue, but accelerate. The $500,000 in Western New York Workforce Development Challenge Grant funding that is on its way to Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES for healthcare training and education programs is a smart investment that will help answer the growing needs of the industry while expanding career opportunities for student and adult learners. My congratulations go out to BOCES on this exciting news, which represents the culmination of months of planning and effort. Their continuing commitment to educational excellence and opportunity is changing lives and strengthening futures.”

The WDC program will ensure the region’s workforce pipeline meets industry demands in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, and energy.

The grants will be administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency.

“Workforce development is critical to any thriving economy, and this funding will provide local not-for-profits the resources they need to train workers in the jobs of the future,” Cuomo said in a news release. “With these investments, we are providing New Yorkers with the skills necessary to meet the demands of a 21st century economy and at the same time encouraging businesses to continue investing in Western New York.”

The grant award for Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES’ Health Careers Academy & Training Center will cover the majority of the total project cost, which is $685,987. This program will provide career pathways in the healthcare industry by providing training to high school students and adults in the areas of Certified Nursing Assistant, Personal Care Aide, and Home Health Aide — all seen as starting points in the health care field.

CNA and HHA programs will provide stackable skill sets and feeders into a Licensed Practical Nurse training program. Additional training opportunities will be available for phlebotomy technicians and bilingual medical transcriptionists, both important careers in this geography. Successful graduates will be able to take certification exams. Support services including financial assistance, childcare, transportation, and professional skills training will be available. The job placement expectation for this program is 95 percent of trainees, or 213 people.

“Investing in our workforce is essential for continued growth in Buffalo and Western New York,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who made Friday’s announcement. “In order to keep up with the needs of the labor market, New York must lead the way to train workers in advanced manufacturing, health care, and energy to close the skills gap and create a pipeline of talent for employers. The Workforce Development Challenge Awards will target resources to ensure training is available across Western New York for good-paying jobs that will move our economy forward.”

The $10 million program is designed to promote and invest in innovative approaches to workforce training for underserved populations throughout Western New York. The Workforce Development Challenge will help increase the capacity of community-based trainers who have proven track records, trusted community relationships, and outstanding abilities for outreach and recruitment. In addition, it will support programs in the region’s target sectors currently experiencing growth, including advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, tourism, energy, and agriculture by providing training for unemployed, underemployed, and/or career ladder opportunities for entry-level and mid-skill workers. It funds best practice models that maximize collaboration between business and workforce trainers.

A second round of applications will be reviewed in 2019. Not-for-profit organizations in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties could be eligible to receive at least $250,000 for workforce development.