Pilot spearheaded by Council connects New Yorkers with job training and full-time employment

New York, NY – Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Diana Reyna and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh today toured a pilot program that connects Sandy impacted New Yorkers, veterans and the long term unemployed with full-time jobs.

New Skills, New Jobs, first proposed by Speaker Quinn in her 2012 State of the City address, is an innovative program that provides New Yorkers with up to eight weeks of paid job training at companies with full-time openings.

“Searching for a job is never easy, which is why we’re focusing on getting the hardest to employ the help they need to return to the workforce,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “New Skills, New Jobs connects job seekers with the customized training required to secure full-time, permanent skilled position that provide a pathway to the middle class. I want to thank the Department of Small Business Services for partnering with the Council and Council Member Reyna for working on innovative solutions to make New Yorkers job-ready and to provide employers with new, skilled employees.”

“By covering the costs of training and directly connecting jobseekers to open positions, New Skills, New Jobs helps long term unemployed New Yorkers, veterans, and people displaced from jobs due to Hurricane Sandy find employment and get back on their feet,” said Rob Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “I thank Speaker Quinn and the City Council for their support of this program which helps connect New Yorkers to full- time jobs.”

Since the launch of New Skills, New Jobs in November, 86 New Yorkers have secured permanent positions, and over 200 people are expected to receive training and job placement by 2014.

“New Skills, New Jobs is a smart initiative designed to help out of work New Yorkers get back on their feet,” said Council Member Diana Reyna. “Our pilot provides participants with the job training they need to secure full time positions, and I thank SBS for working with the City Council to implement this important program.”

Speaker Quinn, Council Member Reyna and Commissioner Walsh visited Sharp Decisions, an Information Technology consulting firm in Midtown to tour the facility and meet with 11 veterans who secured positions as quality assurance testers through New Skills, New Jobs.

New Skills, New Jobs is part of the City Council’s on-going commitment to help unemployed New Yorkers re-enter the workforce. Earlier this year, the City Council passed legislation prohibiting employers from discriminating against unemployed job applicants. The City Council allocated $900,000 to fund the pilot program for two years.

New Jobs, News Skills was created in partnership with the New York City Council and the Department of Small Business Services. Trainees are recruited and placed in positions through the City’s Workforce1 Centers, while employers are identified through New York City Business Solutions. Current participants have secured jobs in the Information Technology, manufacturing, construction, food service and transportation industries.

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