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Syracuse Awarded For Focus On Job Training And Employment Opportunties For Low Income Communities

Syracuse received a major support of investment today in its efforts to expand and create high tech jobs that would hopefully allow the talents of vulnerable populations to self-sustaining careers.  JP Morgan Chase awarded $3 million in the ‘Advancing Cities Challenge’ that also includes several strategies to foster inclusive growth. 

The funds will be allocated to create job training opportunities and support for continued collaborations between businesses and local non-profits.  Northeast Middle Market Head, Thelma Ferguson says Syracuse mirrored the company’s pillars of success.

“… skill set, jobs.  Focusing up on small businesses.  Making sure that neighborhoods are revitalized like the Southside neighborhood.  And then having all of that culminate into financial health.”

So, how did Syracuse get selected as first out of 250 proposals?  The President of Economic Inclusion at Centerstate CEO Dominic Robinson is partially credited with assembling the winning proposal.

 “Meet people where they’re at.  Help them curate their interests, refine their skills and then ultimately build that bridge between where they’ve been from a network standpoint to find access to employers and the opportunities that they bring and then convert that into jobs and then convert those jobs into wealth creation.”

Robinson estimates that 700 people over a three year span would receive specialized job training.  In the end, he thinks that could lead to least 450 people to advance in their careers or secure jobs.  LeMoyne College and Syracuse University are also partners in the program.

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.