The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance today announced that $400,000 has been awarded to help increase employment opportunities for job seekers in Rochester and the Bronx.

Catholic Family Center of Rochester and the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, in the Bronx, have each been awarded $200,000 through the Wage Subsidy Program to help low-income individuals with barriers to employment get jobs.

“This program provides an incentive to businesses to hire people with limited skills or work history,” said Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts. “Participants will not only become employed, but will have the support they need to develop skills that can lead to a better job and greater opportunity in the future. These efforts not only help people at the lower end of the economic ladder find work, but also make it more likely they can achieve economic independence.”

The Wage Subsidy Program grant recipients will use the funds to recruit and enroll participants, develop jobs with employers and provide ongoing services to ensure successful entry into unsubsidized employment. Individuals with multiple barriers to employment, including receiving public assistance for an extended period, lack of education and very limited English proficiency, among others, are targeted.

“We are grateful to accept this award to continue the Wage Subsidy program that we operate with our partners under the Rochester Workforce Consortium,” said Jim Morris, Associate Vice President for Catholic Family Center's Family Services Programs. “In its first year of operation, our Wage Subsidy Program has provided critical wrap-around support to job seekers so they can overcome the barriers that stand in the way of job placement and retention. Local employers are more deeply committed to open job opportunities to those most in need of the financial stability provided by earned income.”

“The Wage Subsidy Program is a phenomenal tool in PHI’s efforts to provide quality care through quality jobs,” said Jodi M. Sturgeon, PHI President. “The program will expand participants’ access to employment opportunities and careers in home care that otherwise might be held out of reach by limited access to education or language barriers. We’re very excited to be a part of it.”