Representative Adriano Espaillat Applauds Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone’s Support of Critically Needed Workforce Development
May 02 2024 - 9:56AM
Business Wire
UMEZ Awards $300,000 in Economic Recovery and
Capacity Building Grants to Six Upper Manhattan Organizations
Providing Critical Workforce Development Services to Residents
Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) today applauded the
Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation’s (“UMEZ”)
Economic Recovery and Capacity Building Grant program. The program
awards $300,000 in grants to six local organizations that have each
played a vital role in assisting communities most affected by
pandemic-related job losses through upskilling, reskilling, and
supportive services. These recipients, ranging from multi-service
organizations to community-based workforce development entities,
have helped fortify the local workforce ecosystem in Upper
Manhattan amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and
the community’s recovery.
Rep. Espaillat said, “The COVID-19 pandemic, has been
unprecedented in its impact on our community. Over the past 18
months our community has demonstrated tremendous resilience during
this economic recovery phase. I am appreciative of UMEZ for its
ongoing contribution to support this cohort of community
organizations that each play a critical role assisting local
residents, helping them meet the workforce demands and challenges
of a changing economy.”
Blair M. Duncan, President and Chief Executive Officer of UMEZ,
stated, “We are delighted to provide these organizations meaningful
investments to support local workforce development in Upper
Manhattan. We are proud to play a role in supporting this
initiative and look forward to seeing the impact these
organizations have on local residents and the community throughout
Upper Manhattan.”
The six organizations awarded Economic Recovery and Capacity
Building grants in 2024 are:
- Community League of the Heights, Inc
- Community Impact
- Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation
- New York Urban League, Inc.
- STRIVE International, Inc
- Youth Action Programs and Homes, Inc./Youth Action
YouthBuild
Yahshaanyah Hill, UMEZ Senior Vice President and Chief Program
Officer stated, “Each of these organizations has demonstrated
innovation, dedication to growth and program enhancements, and a
strong commitment to serving the Upper Manhattan community. The
grants provided by UMEZ will support these organizations in
building a strong foundation for the ecosystem of workforce
development in Upper Manhattan.”
"In the midst of the ever-changing landscape of technology and
employment, the UMEZ Economic Recovery and Capacity Building Grant
awarded to Youth Action couldn't have come at a more crucial time.
These funds will be instrumental in equipping the students of our
YouthBuild program to proactively navigate the forthcoming
technological revolution. We extend our deepest appreciation to
UMEZ for their steadfast support,” said Robert Taylor, Executive
Director, Youth Action YouthBuild East Harlem.
“With our national headquarters in Harlem, we at STRIVE see
firsthand the devastating, lingering challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic, which caused a drastic reduction in workforce
opportunities for individuals re-entering the workforce, including
young adults, individuals formerly incarcerated, as well as those
with no previous work experience,” said Ayesha George, executive
director, STRIVE New York. “We are very grateful to the Upper
Manhattan Empowerment Zone for its support.”
“We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the UMEZ
Economic Recovery & Capacity Building Grant. This funding will
empower us to spearhead impactful research, strategic planning, and
partnership development initiatives," said Maria Lizardo, Executive
Director, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation.
“We are extremely grateful to UMEZ for the capacity building
grant to support Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) workforce
development programs. The UMEZ grant will help us increase the
salaries of our program staff and ensure we retain the talent
needed to implement our plan to enable the residents of Washington
Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights to create a better life for
themselves and their families,” commented Yvonne Stennett,
Executive Director, Community League of the Heights.
For more information about UMEZ and its grant programs, please
visit www.umez.org.
About Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development
Corporation
UMEZ’s mission is to sustain the economic revitalization of all
communities in Upper Manhattan through job creation, corporate
alliances, strategic investments, and small business assistance.
UMEZ facilitates economic development in Central, West, and East
Harlem; Washington Heights; and Inwood neighborhoods.
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