$50,000 training grants available for area businesses

The Utica OD reported that Mohawk Valley businesses with at least four or more employees have until 4 p.m. Monday, July 20, to apply for money to train those workers. About $5 million has been set aside for companies to train employees through the Building Skills in New York State program. Businesses can apply for up to $50,000 from the state Department of Labor.

There is no minimum award amount. Contracts for training will be awarded for up to six months.

Mario Musolino, executive deputy commissioner of the state Labor Department, and U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, on Monday at a news conference encouraged area businesses to take advantage of the program.

More than 5,000 Mohawk Valley businesses are potentially eligible to apply, they said. The criteria includes that the business must:

• Be a private sector, for-profit, or nonprofit business, and have four or more employees; or a consortium of two or more such businesses that have the same training needs.
• Be headquartered or have at least one physical location in the state at the time the proposal is submitted. Money awarded to business applicants must be used for employees working at the applicant’s New York facilities.
• Have contacted their local work force investment agency. The area contact is the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties.

For more information, to download an application or to see the full criteria, visit the state Department of Labor’s Web site at www.labor.ny.gov.