Cuomo plan targets longterm jobless

ALBANY, NY (release) - Governor Andrew Cuomo today launched a new initiative to combat long-term unemployment in New York State.

The state will distribute $6 million in federal grants to companies that hire long-term unemployed individuals, as well as deploy a mobile response team to assist individuals seeking work in high unemployment areas.

The $6 million will provide wage subsidies to businesses that hire a new employee. The Governor has directed the State Department of Labor and Empire State Development to work with local workforce development agencies to promote the available federal training dollars in every region of the state.

The Governor’s initiative will also  include a Mobile Reemployment Response Team to target areas that have the highest rate of long-term unemployment in New York. The team will set up one and two day operations at libraries, schools and community centers. Unemployment insurance recipients who have received 27 or more weeks of benefits to date will be invited, although all New Yorkers will be welcome.

Over the next month, the Mobile Reemployment Response Team will travel to the following upstate locations where its directive is to meet with at least 25% of the local population afflicted with long-term unemployment. Multiple New York City and Long Island locations will be announced by early October. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:


Tuesday, October 9 – Orleans County
Genesee Community College, Medina Campus
11470 Maple Ridge Road, Genesee, NY

Friday, October 12 – Erie County
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY


New Yorkers interested in learning more about these initiatives can visit http://www.labor.ny.gov/careerservices/reemploy.shtm or call(888) 4-NYSDOL (888-469-7365)