BMCC Receives Funds From Second Round of $175 Million Workforce Development Initiative

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) and five other CUNY colleges —  Bronx Community College, Brooklyn College, LaGuardia Community College, Hostos Community College and Queensborough Community College — are among the recipients of funding totaling $48 million and made available through the second round of the $175 million New York State Workforce Development Initiative.

This second round of funding — of which BMCC will receive $648,000 —supports strategic regional efforts that help New Yorkers find quality, well-paid jobs and further New York’s goal to Reimagine, Rebuild, and Renew from the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will also meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, expand apprenticeships and address the long-term needs of growing industries

Funding and incentives provided by the New York State Department of Labor, the State University of New York, The City University of New York, Empire State Development and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will support critical job training and employment opportunities in high-demand industries for nearly 22,000 New Yorkers across the State.

“Economic development isn’t about making the rich richer — it’s about ensuring everyone has the opportunity to get a piece of the pie,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “During a time when our economy has struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more critical that we build a skilled and capable workforce, and that’s exactly what this $175 million initiative does. The second round of the state’s Workforce Development Initiative will leverage our resources to educate and train New Yorkers to both support their families and succeed in their professional lives.”

“The economic impact of COVID-19 has completely upended the traditional workplace, and we are committed to helping New Yorkers get the skills and experience needed for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “Our Workforce Development Initiative will continue to keep New Yorkers ahead of the job curve and create a more inclusive post-pandemic future where success is accessible to all.”

City University of New York Chancellor and NYC REDC Co-Chair Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “Workforce development is a critical investment toward rebuilding and revitalizing New York with a broad range of economic development and job training programs that will allow our students to train for the jobs of today and tomorrow, expand opportunities to partner with regional employers and enable our graduates to play a key role in the recovery of the city and region. With the support of Governor Cuomo and New York State, CUNY will contribute the expertise and human resources needed to help fuel the City’s and region’s economic recovery.”

“BMCC continues to enhance its Workforce Development curriculum which is driven by the needs of local and national industries,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe. “The support we have received from the Governor’s initiative will enable us to bring equitable learning opportunities with courses that are sufficiently flexible to meet the diverse needs of students and industry, so students experience a high-quality mixture of work-based and classroom learning.”

Awards will fall into one of three categories: Public-Private Partnerships to Advance 21st Century Skills, Employer-Driven Skills so Training Leads to Quality Jobs, and Workforce Solutions that Match Business Needs.

Information about the application process and program guidelines are available here.

More information about the Workforce Development Initiative can be found at workforcedevelopment.ny.gov.