SCHENECTADY COUNTY Agency wants to help at-risk youths Towns included in job training effort BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Northeast Parent and Child Society is seeking to create a first-ofits-kind career development center in Schenectady County to help troubled teens and young adults from surrounding towns. Northeast is applying for a $750,000 grant from the state to establish the center at 530 Franklin St. The goal is to help more than 1,000 young adults between the ages of 16 and 22 from school districts in Niskayuna, Princetown, Duanesburg, Glenville and Rotterdam. This is Northeast’s first effort to help at-risk youths residing in the towns, said Peter Stoll, vice president of career d e v e l o p m e n t for Northeast and author of the grant. “I do this for youths in Hamilton Hill and now I’m doing it for youths outside the city. There are youths in the towns who are not doing any better than youths in the city.” Northeast launched its Career Development Center in 2006 and currently has a staff of more than 35 and a budget of about $2 million. It offers several programs to help at-risk youths in the city, such as Schenectady Youth Build. Youth Build is a 12-month program that assists young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 earn a GED. Schenectady County is submitting the grant, which county legislators approved Tuesday night, because the county is on the list of targeted priorities under the Governor’s Office for Small Cities Program, Stoll said. Stoll has identified 1,135 youths with low to moderate income who are eligible for the program. The youths either did not finish high school, received education certifi - cates or completed a GED program; many work in low-paying jobs or cannot find jobs that pay well because of their low level of skills. “This is a population that historically has a hard time getting work. They are going to require much more intensive training and certification,” Stoll said. “If you take this population of 1,000 youths, they are not going to get anything but the jobs no one else wants to do.” Stoll said the youths typically do not have degrees that qualify them for financial aid at Schenectady County Community College or for any other higher education institution. They also have never received any comprehensive job training services, never received any job certifications and do not qualify for any of the state Labor Department’s designated “Jobs in Demand” program, he said. Northeast would use the grant to renovate 10,000 square feet of the Franklin Street building’s fi rst floor into a state-of-the-art computer lab and training center. The center would offer 40 career development programs. It owns the building and has offices on the upper floors. Stoll said he hopes to secure a minimum of 150 new jobs per year in “high-demand occupations” for program participants. These are jobs in computers, digital imaging, graphics, construction, brownfi eld remediation and as emergency medical technicians. “The pieces are in place and I am fighting hard for the grant,” Stoll said. “There is $45 million available statewide, and I would like to see a chunk of it come into Schenectady County.” Stoll said he has secured more than $8 million in state and federal grants, in private funds and from Northeast itself to operate programs for at-risk youths.
“This is a population that historically has a hard time getting work. They are going to require much more intensive training and certification,” Stoll said. “If you take this population of 1,000 youths, they are not going to get anything but the jobs no one else wants to do.”
we like to save those jobs for the illegal immigrants/migrant workers.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Recent articles in the Daily Gazette have mentioned the collaboration between Northeast Parent and Child Society and Schenectady County to help at-risk youth achieve better educational and career outcomes. Northeast has indeed partnered with [Metroplex Chairman] Ray Gillen, Jim Kalohn of the Schenectady County Department of Economic Development and Planning, and Edward Kosiur of the county’s Youth Bureau in preparing a proposal to the state Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. Northeast also has worked closely with Schenectady County legislators and staff throughout the entire process. County officials held two public hearings, authorized a resolution supporting the project, helped with writing proposal content and preparing required documents. Together we secured the support of state legislative leaders and forged partnerships with Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady County Job Training Agency, Better Neighborhoods Inc., BBL Development Group, AP Construction, Mohawk Ambulance, Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters and Solid Surface Craftsman. If funded, this grant would create a state-of-the-art career development center for youth in Schenectady County. County youth would have access to a leadership development training facility, a computer training lab to acquire technological skills needed in the workforce, and programs like Schenectady Youth Build. We anticipate tremendous outcomes as a result of this project. Each year, 250 county youth will receive a comprehensive career assessment; caseworker support; a certificate of employability; job mentors; six-week paid internships in high-demand career specialities in construction, health, technology and other career paths; enhanced math and literacy skills; a high school or GED diploma; and job-related industry and OSHA safety training and certifications. After successfully completing the program, these youth will enter full-time employment, union apprenticeships or post-secondary education. In short, the Small Cities project reflects strong collaboration between Northeast Parent & Child Society and our Schenectady County partners, as well as the shared vision of our duty to help young people succeed. PETER F. STOLL Schenectady The writer is vice president of career development at Northeast.
Northeast has indeed partnered with [Metroplex Chairman] Ray Gillen, Jim Kalohn of the Schenectady County Department of Economic Development and Planning, and Edward Kosiur of the county’s Youth Bureau in preparing a proposal to the state Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
I recall Chairman Gillen telling the media that the Metroplex doesn't fund not-for-profits when discussing the YMCA relocation.
The Northeast Parent & Child Society received a loan from the Metroplex and after discontinuing payments on the loan, was awarded with forgiveness of $228,500 of the loan principle to "induce the Child Center to make loan payments again".
5. Child Program & Family Resource Center Project: Resolution 480-07 - Amend Loan Terms
The Finance Committee reviewed and recommended modifying the loan terms and conditions in order to induce the Child Center to make loan payments again. If the repayment plan is successful, Metroplex will ultimately forgive one-half of the outstanding $457,000 second mortgage loan.
The Committee's recommendations include: receiving an immediate $20,000 of unpaid interest (with the remainder being forgiven); converting the interest from 3 percent to zero percent; and forgiving equal amounts of principal for each monthly principal payment made until maturity. Metroplex also accepts a 50 percent guaranty from Parson's Child and Family Center not to exceed $228,500. Mr. Lewis moved Resolution 480-07; seconded by Mr. Bulko.
Discussion followed about the project's history and losses incurred. Resolution 480-07 was unanimously approved.
So, fellow taxpayers, here we have a not-for-profit organization that has received funding from the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, discontinued payments on the loan of public revenues, was awarded with the forgiveness of $228,500 of debt, and now looks again to the Metroplex and the Schenectady County Legislature for funding.
But ... but ... but ... they don't fund the business (er, non profit) they only fund the building .... remember?? hahaha - what a joke this whole thing is turning into.
and at the last meeting, guess what it was 13-2 or something. Can you guess who voted against it? And who voted for it? Of course it was all for the kids dont you know? So if you go against it you are against the "kids"
And these kids are the ones that learn from each other how to avoid getting a job when they become adults so we pay for them while they are in Northeast, we pay for their actions (the fire at the old Brandywine school), we pay for them to live off the government, we pay for them through government "grants" to the not-profits that "help" these "poor unfortunates," etc.
Start out life with a job, be sure you are tardy frequently and call in "sick" frequently. Get fired from a few jobs and be a no-show for some others. Build yourself a history of a lousy work ethic. Go to job interviews dressed sloppily. And of course, when you list employment history which is the past ten jobs you've had in three years, with the dates worked reflecting time at each job a few weeks each, guaranteed your application will go directly into the circular file.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
This is a great way to start kids off....teaching them how to live off of the taxpayers money. Has anyone driven through the city of Schenectady lately? I wouldn't live there if you gave me free housing. Repairing streets with no one directing traffic, kids riding bikes in the middle of the road, kids walking out in front of you while you are driving, people walking by themselves and 'talking to themselves'. The city seems out of control. No order what so ever. And there are not for profits everywhere. Obviously not for profits that we the taxpayers support. Tell me what good they are doing? It is a mess!!
These tax paid not for profits are obviously not working. Neither are the leaders of the city.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Kids DONT VOTE......parents are responsible for their kids, my baby's daddy, my baby's mother etc etc.......that portion of the population that uses this language uses it to 'push off' responsibility......
if you say"my baby's daddy",,,,it's as if the mother was truly not involved in the conception, pro-creation, sex, choice etc...... if you say"my baby's mother",,,,,it's as if the father was truly not involved in the conception, pro-creation, sex, choice etc........
so take the baby's daddy/mother or whatever and lock them in the building paid for by the public----oh, that would be jail--or, planned parenthood.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
SCHENECTADY COUNTY $750K granted for youth career development
The county has received a $750,000 grant to construct a career development center to help troubled teenagers throughout the county. County officials announced on Wednesday that it had received a state Community Development Block Grant to help establish the Career Development Center for youth. This center is a partnership of Schenectady County’s Youth Bureau, the Department of Economic Development and Planning and Northeast Parent and Child Society. The center would be located at the fi rst floor of Northeast Parent and Child Society’s office building at 530 Franklin St. It would provide job training skills to low and moderate income people age 18 to 24 who either did not finish high school or finished high school but are having trouble finding a job. They will receive training in occupations, including computers, digital imaging, emergency medical technician, graphics, construction, brownfield remediation and others. Northeast had applied for a grant back in April. It is its first effort to help at-risk youths residing in the surrounding towns of Niskayuna, Princetown, Duanesburg, Glenville and Rotterdam. “Northeast Parent and Child Society recognized the need to provide career services to at-risk youth in the townships and villages throughout Schenectady County,” Peter Stoll, Northeast’s vice president of career development, said in a press release. “We are delighted that the Community Development Block Grant will allow us to help these young people support themselves, their families and their community.” More than 1,100 youth are potentially eligible for the program. “This program will be a model for others around the state as we help disadvantaged youth get back on the track toward a productive life,” Ed Kosiur, special assistant to the commissioner of social services for youth development, said in the press release. County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, praised the state for awarding the grant. “This award is a great example of how Schenectady County is partnering with local community organizations to invest in our young people,” she said in the announcement.
I watched this meeting on TV a few months ago how come it is news now. This was on 2 months ago and they keep milking it to help the demos in the daily rag. By the way my man Ang and his sidekick Joe S were against this give-away of money to and this here shows why the conservs should be backing them next year indeed
Just how many government/non-profit programs are needed for these kids? It appears that the problem is not the kids, but their parents. Sorry folks but I think that 'responsible' parents pay enough money to raise their own kids...they don't need to be paying more, through their tax dollars, to raise someone else's.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Hey, bumble. I have to say that I agree with you in one point, and disagree with you in another.
I agree that they shouldn't be spending all this money. For once, I am glad to see that the county is doing something other than just for the city...with the exception that the people of the areas that are being served by this have to commute to the belly of the beast.
Plus, this is money to get the program up and running. Where does the money come from next year to KEEP the office open? And what happens when the people of the surrounding communities (who previously showed they didn't want to be downtown by not moving there) don't use this program? Does it get flipped around for the City of Schenectady residents again?
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