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Q&A
Collaboration between EDC and workforce development organizations
2:04:06
·
3 min
Council Member Amanda Farías asks representatives from NEW and NYCETC about their collaboration with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on workforce development initiatives. The panelists discuss their experiences working with EDC on various projects and the need for continued investment in workforce development.
- Gregory J. Morris from NYCETC highlighted their involvement in EDC's economic mobility network development RFP and other major projects.
- Michiko Grasso from NEW mentioned the challenges faced during COVID-19 and their eagerness to strengthen partnerships with EDC.
- Both emphasized the importance of sustained investment in workforce development programs.
Amanda Farías
2:04:06
Thank you all for testifying.
2:04:08
Just from the perspectives of NEW and NYCETC, how frequently are you hearing from the Economic Development Corporation or any one of the community projects that we're seeing that they're managing or working on in terms of either getting more folks into the workforce or asking for your collaboration on a varying degree of different groups that are on the ground that can help with the pipeline and or other deficiencies that the EDC might not be able to have but need community partnership.
Gregory J. Morris
2:04:44
I was very grateful to have been called upon to support what was referenced during the earlier presentation, the economic mobility or economic network development RFP that EDC put forward.
2:04:59
In other words, allowing me the opportunity to talk about what it would take to create economic mobility networks in New York City based on the history of the New York City employment training providers.
2:05:09
We did that in partnership with EDC in talking about that, how to make that possible.
2:05:13
And we're grateful that those particular, that RFP went forward and is identified in in two different pockets of New York City.
2:05:19
There's more that needs to be done.
2:05:21
That said, and and certainly as someone who, has championed the Spark Campus project and has been active in supporting and championing that project, as someone who has talked about the cruise ships and the plans on the West Side, as someone who has championed and focused on what's happening at the Kingsbridge Armory and the plan for that for the future, I do feel like I've had the opportunity to say workforce development counts.
2:05:48
As you know, unless it's invested in, unless the actual scaffolding is in place to ensure that opportunity is available, it's not gonna hold true.
2:05:58
So from my perspective, I feel like I'm being called into conversations and what it is that I'm putting forward about what our coalition believes workforce development should and could look like has been received by EDC.
2:06:12
I think the complexity is about what is the investment that that means over time so we can actually see and manage the results of that particular focus and that that interest.
2:06:21
And that's the part where I would say there's still much work to be done.
Michiko Grasso
2:06:27
Definitely, we can, connect more with the EDC, just out of transparency.
2:06:33
COVID did badly, to our organization.
2:06:39
We we were one one of those nonprofits that did not do well because who can teach carpentry virtually.
2:06:47
And, we went through a lot of staff transitions during the period, and we actually welcomed our first tradeswoman and first person of color, Leah Rambo, to become our president last year.
2:06:58
So we are definitely eager to continue our partnership and and, you know, really dig deep into this partnership with the EDC.