The Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties has been awarded $289,720 by the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance the Working Solutions One-Stop Career Centers’ services for individuals with disabilities, thus increasing their potential of employment.

“We believe that every resident of our tri-county region should have access to opportunities for full and productive employment,” said Alice J. Savino, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board. “As our economy grows new jobs, we want all parts of our region to have the ability to share in that growth. We thank the U.S. Department of Labor for their support of our efforts.”

Savino praised Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, who worked with the WIB to help secure the grant. “Congressman Boehlert was our advocate in Washington on behalf of the Mohawk Valley’s individuals with disabilities and the employers who can improve productivity by tapping into their talents,” Savino said. “We appreciate his continued efforts to move our economy forward.”

Savino noted that the WIB was one of only 23 grant recipients in the nationwide competition, which identified model programs showing innovation and collaboration. “Our success is due to the power of our partnerships,” Savino said, noting that key partners include the Resource Center for Independent Living, Learning Disabilities Association of the Mohawk Valley, VESID, Oneida-Lewis Arc, Herkimer County ARC, Madison-Cortland ARC, Oneida County Workforce Development, Herkimer County Employment & Training and Madison County Employment & Training, as well as the Boston-based Institute for Community Inclusion, which will provide training for local Working Solutions staff.

Savino said Census statistics estimate that unemployment for individuals with disabilities hovers at around 67 percent in the tri-county region. “We want to develop a fully integrated system that serves all customers,” Savino said. “To do that, we will create what are called navigators who can help customers connect with funding for which they are eligible, so that they can learn the skills they need. Then, we will work with employers to help them realize the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities.”

Savino said changes within the Working Solutions Centers to better serve customers with disabilities, as well as outreach to employers and area residents, will lead to new opportunities. “Recognizing that our region’s workforce would be incomplete without the contributions that can be offered by individuals with disabilities, this project will increase our Working Solutions One-Stop System’s ability to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce.”

Working Solutions Centers in Utica, Rome, Oneida and Herkimer offer a wide range of services to help job-seekers find employment and help employers find the right person they need for an opening. All four centers are fully handicap accessible, and have assistive technology installed to enhance on line job search capabilities.

For more information on programs and services offered to meet the needs of employers and job seekers, contact a Working Solutions Center:

Utica: 207 Genesee St. (State Office Building), 793-2229
Rome: 252 W. Dominick St., 337-7300
Madison County: Wal-Mart Plaza, Oneida, 363-2400
Herkimer County: 320 N. Prospect St., Herkimer, 867-1400.

Details about programs and services available through the Working Solutions Centers are available on line at www.working-solutions.org.