NEW YORK – New York Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday a significant expansion of the city’s Precision Employment Initiative, which aims to connect New Yorkers at risk of gun violence with career preparation and job placement programs.
The program, built in partnership with BlocPower and several community organizations, will increase its capacity to serve up to 3,000 New Yorkers through the administration’s $ 54 million investment in the Enacted Budget for fiscal year 2023 (FY23), which will help to reduce unemployment, promote sustainability and strengthen long-term public safety in disadvantaged areas of the city.
“It’s not easy to change your life or fight the climate crisis, but our Precision Employment Initiative allows New Yorkers to do both,” said Mayor Adams. “That’s why we’re investing $ 54 million to expand the program, serving up to 3,000 New Yorkers. By working with BlocPower, we are creating an initial solution to several downstream problems, including gun violence, unemployment and environmental injustice. “
The Precision Employment Initiative began in the summer of 2021, initially serving residents in Brownsville, Brooklyn; Mott Haven, Bronx; and Jamaica, Queens. Thanks to the investment from the Adams administration, the Precision Employment Initiative is now able to serve participants from East New York, Brooklyn; Far Rockaway, Queens; Flatbush and East Flatbush, Brooklyn; Harlem, Manhattan; and Melrose, Bronx, with the ability to expand to serve other neighborhood residents within the year, according to the mayor’s office.
The program, called Civilian Climate Corps, connects New Yorkers at risk of armed violence with vocational training opportunities in a variety of highly paid and in demand green economy jobs, including solar installations, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging. as well as HVAC, energy efficiency audits and more.
To date, the Precision Employment Initiative has served more than 1,300 program participants. About 30% of the participants were placed in full-time, well-paid jobs and 62% passed the occupational safety and health administration training.
In two of the areas served by the initial phase of the program, Brownsville and Mott Haven, shootings decreased by 21% and 35%, respectively, from the same period a year ago.
“Ensuring our public safety and connecting people to good jobs is the foundation for creating prosperity and this investment goes a step further to ensure New Yorkers are prepared for success in the industries of the future,” said the deputy mayor. for public safety, Philip Banks III. “This is the kind of long-term strategic solution needed to deal with gun violence. It is an advantage for public safety and the economy. “
Eligible program participants enroll in vocational training and are offered pathways to well-paid permanent jobs with starting wages of $ 20 an hour or more in a wide range of industries, including green energy, technology, administrative services and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the cohorts of youth served by the program receive training in soft skills, including conflict resolution, critical reasoning, and emotional intelligence, as well as technical and professional skills.
“We know how important good jobs are to prevent gun violence in our city and strengthen our communities,” said New York City Ombudsman Jumaane D. Williams. “For the past decade, I have fought for an expanded youth employment summer program; I am thrilled to see job opportunities for New Yorkers multiply thanks to the Precision Employment Initiative. Well-paid green jobs are the way of the future, and with this additional funding, young New Yorkers will be able to build the most sustainable and equitable city they will grow up in. “
