U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,099,916 in new federal funding for Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Labor. These grants will be awarded to MVCC’s YouthBuild program, a pre-apprenticeship program for at-risk youth from ages 16-to-24.
“This federal funding will help Mohawk Valley Community College continue its great work by giving many young adults the opportunity to earn their degree, accrue real construction-related job experience and make a better life for themselves,” said Schumer. “I am pleased that the Department of Labor has recognized the importance of the MVCC’s YouthBuild program and look forward to hearing about its many successes.”
“The Mohawk Valley Community College will use these funds to continue to support YouthBuild degree completion and industry-recognized certification programs that will propel at-risk youth toward achieving their full potential,” said Gillibrand. “I will continue to support more federal funding for pre-apprenticeship programs like YouthBuild in New York. Helping our young people obtain the necessary degrees and certifications will enable them to be competitive when applying for in-demand occupations.”
YouthBuild is a recognized pre-apprenticeship program that helps at-risk youth complete high school or state equivalency degree programs, earn industry-recognized certifications for in-demand occupations, and undergo training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in their communities. YouthBuild has a network of approximately 260 active urban and rural YouthBuild grants in 46 states.