MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., May 25, 2023 — In October of 2022, the Livingston County Board of Supervisors allocated $100K in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to boost and support the training and job placement of residents through the County’s Office of Workforce Development. The office used these funds specifically to provide comprehensive job training programs tailored to high-demand sectors to aid in economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Since the approval of these job training funds, the impact on local workers has been significant with 19 County residents having already been approved for a combined total of $47,000 in ARPA training support. Many of these individuals were unemployed or underemployed and would have been unable to afford these valuable training opportunities without the County’s backing. The training programs span various sectors, with several residents pursuing careers in health care, while others have used the funds to begin the process of obtaining their commercial driver’s license (CDL), among other fields. This initiative has proven helpful for numerous employers, including several County departments, by providing a pool of skilled workers to meet the rising demand for certified professionals across various fields.
“I commend the Board of Supervisors for this forward-thinking investment in our County’s workforce,” said Ryan Snyder, Workforce Development Director. “Our focus on training in high-demand sectors is creating a pipeline of skilled talent that’s positioned well to meet the evolving needs of our local businesses. We’re building a strong and resilient workforce that will drive economic recovery and the prosperity of our County.”
As a result of the pandemic, Livingston County received the largest influx of federal dollars in its history through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Congress created this federal bill to support projects that provide for economic resiliency and enhance communities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Livingston County government is slated to receive approximately $12,200,000 from ARPA over two distributions, with a requirement that all funds be spent by the end of calendar year 2024.
Learn more about the County’s professional development opportunities and programs by visiting the Office of Workforce Development’s website or calling (585) 243-7047.
For more information on ARPA’s impact in Livingston County, please read the County’s latest update here: https://www.livingstoncounty.us/civicalerts.aspx?aid=1154.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is comprised of more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.