[Employment News]
David Meade, executive director of Building Skills New York: “Building Skills believes that New York City’s ongoing construction boom must continue to provide good jobs for residents of the communities in which new projects are being built. We are taking another step to advance that mission by working with Public Housing Communities and other local stakeholders to ensure that more locally based workers have the safety training they need to gain and maintain good construction jobs.”
Photo: Building Skills New York
Building Skills New York is helping local underserved residents gain employment in construction field–including through training programs.
As the deadline approaches for New York City’s new training requirements for construction workers, Building Skills New York recently announced that its nonprofit programming will help hundreds of locally based workers get the training they need to gain and maintain good jobs in the construction industry.
This continues Building Skills’ longstanding mission to connect underserved New Yorkers with workforce development and career opportunities in construction.
Building Skills is partnering with Public Housing Communities, Inc., which works to engage residents of New York City’s public housing with education and training opportunities. This partnership and other work with local stakeholders have enabled Building Skills to hold training sessions for current and prospective construction workers.
“Building Skills believes that New York City’s ongoing construction boom must continue to provide good jobs for residents of the communities in which new projects are being built,” said David Meade, executive director of Building Skills New York. “We are taking another step to advance that mission by working with Public Housing Communities and other local stakeholders to ensure that more locally based workers have the safety training they need to gain and maintain good construction jobs.”
New York City’s Local Law 196 requires construction workers in all five boroughs to complete a total of 40 hours of Site Safety Training courses in order to be permitted to work. By December 1, 2019, workers are required to have at least 30 hours completed. The OSHA training that these workers are receiving as part of meeting these requirements will ensure that they are prepared to work safely and effectively on construction sites throughout New York City.
Building Skills continues to break down barriers that have historically excluded underserved populations from access to the construction industry. In addition to actively connecting with workers to bring awareness to new industry requirements, the organization also makes the training accessible at no cost to workers.
Helping provide access to these trainings is only adding to the growing number of resources that Building Skills provides to workers looking to find jobs and further their careers. Building Skills has placed over 600 workers – typically underemployed minority New Yorkers – in construction jobs across the city. Additionally, Building Skills continues to provide on-the-job support to each worker as they seek to broaden their skillset and advance their construction career.
About Building Skills New York
Building Skills New York provides an efficient and convenient process for finding a construction job for many City residents who have long been unable to gain access to careers in the construction industry. The organization achieves its goals through a well-designed and targeted program that places underemployed and underserved New Yorkers in construction industry jobs. BSNY transforms lives and helps residents revitalize communities by growing a skilled construction workforce that represents the diversity of New York City. BSNY partners with the city’s leading workforce agencies to recruit and screen eligible NYC residents and provide them with the necessary skills and safety training.
For more information on Building Skills New York logon to their website at: https://buildingskillsny.org/
