Through $54 Million Investment in FY23 Budget, Program Will Increase Capacity to Serve as Many as 3,000 New Yorkers
Initiative Exemplifies Mayor’s Commitment to Identifying Upstream Solutions to Tackle Gun Violence
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a significant expansion of the city’s Precision Employment Initiative, which connects New Yorkers at risk of gun violence with career readiness and job placement programs. The program, run in partnership BlocPower and a number of community-based organizations, will increase its capacity to serve up to 3,000 New Yorkers thanks to the administration’s $54 million investment in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Adopted Budget, helping to reduce unemployment, promote sustainability, and bolster long-term public safety in underserved areas throughout the city.
“It is not easy to turn your life around, or to fight the climate crisis, but our Precision Employment Initiative allows New Yorkers to do both,” said Mayor Adams. “That is why we are investing $54 million into expanding the program, serving up to 3,000 New Yorkers. Working with BlocPower, we are creating an upstream 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 Adams administration’s investment, 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 possibility of expanding to serve residents of additional neighborhoods within the year.
The program — called the Civilian Climate Corps — connects New Yorkers at risk of gun violence with job training opportunities in a variety of high-demand, good-paying green economy jobs, including solar, heat pump, and electric vehicle charging installation, as well as HVAC, energy efficiency auditing, and more.
To date, the Precision Employment Initiative has served more than 1,300 program participants. Roughly 30 percent of participants have been placed in full-time, good-paying jobs, and 62 percent have passed Occupational Safety and Health Administration training. In two of the areas served by the initial phase of the program — Brownsville and Mott Haven — shootings declined 21 percent and 35 percent over the same period in the previous year, respectively.
Eligible program participants are enrolled in job training and offered pathways to permanent, good-paying jobs at starting salaries of $20 per hour or more in a wide array of industries, including green energy, technology, administrative services, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the youth cohorts served by the program receive training in soft skills, including conflict resolution, critical reasoning, and emotional intelligence, as well as technical and vocational skills.
“Ensuring our public safety and connecting people with good jobs is the foundation of creating prosperity, and this investment goes one step further in making sure New Yorkers are set up for success in the industries of the future,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “This is the kind of strategic, long-term solution needed to address gun violence. It’s a win-win for public safety and the economy.”
“Through creating good-paying green jobs and job training for an emerging, vital sector, this administration is tackling the root causes of violence and addressing the real threat of climate change,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “The Precision Employment Initiative continues to be a model of how cross-sector engagement is the path forward to solving the pressing issues of today.”
“The Precision Employment Initiative is an innovative, upstream approach to addressing the twin crises of unemployment and gun violence in underserved areas throughout our city,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “The program has already shown success in driving down shootings and increasing opportunities for New Yorkers who need it most. By expanding program capacity to serve up to 3,000 people, we are making a dramatic investment in our city’s future.”
“Climate change will require an all-hands-on-deck effort to foster the green workforce we need to transform our built environment,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Kizzy Charles-Guzman. “This initiative is another example of New York’s leadership on environmental justice: Communities that have disproportionately borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution will receive training and access to good jobs to do the work that is critical to decarbonizing our city and create a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable city.”
“The New York City Civilian Climate Corps is a transformative investment in the city’s future and our shared prosperity,” said Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “This investment is a triple win because it makes our city more resilient to climate change, our talent better positioned for today’s dynamic labor market, and our economy more inclusive.”
“When BlocPower looks at low-income communities, we often see two forms of waste — the waste from burning fossil fuels in local buildings and the waste of human potential as underserved families aren’t being connected to opportunities,” said Donnel Baird, CEO and founder, BlocPower. “New York City’s Precision Employment Initiative proves that vulnerable individuals want to work. They want to take care of their families with dignity. They want careers! While there is a skilled labor shortage across America, workers in our program learn how to operate cutting-edge hardware and software to fill that shortage. They are positioned to lead the fight in confronting the climate crisis. We are super proud of the program and grateful for Mayor Adams’ vision.”
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