Governor Andrew Cuomo came to Rochester Wednesday to talk about $16 million in state money that will help support three local projects aimed at reducing poverty.
They include the establishment of a Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center at Eastman Business Park. MCC is partnering with Kodak to offer manufacturing-oriented programs and training in the skilled trades.
Cuomo says training is key if communities in the current environment want to create jobs.
“Almost every new job requires a new level of training. I walk through these plants, I couldn’t do any of the jobs, they’re all highly technical, they all involve some kind of computer, electronic device, so really, it’s that you have to be trained for those positions.”
Other programs getting funding include a mentoring program that was created by the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative and expanding the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.
Some of the state money is coming from funding that is already part of the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.
Cuomo says there is also an effort to add $14 million in private funding to these efforts.
