The Issue
Red Hook’s high unemployment rate is a critical issue that undermines the economic resiliency of the Community. Providing training and employment opportunities in growing resiliency related careers can address this issue. Substantial investment in building and infrastructure improvements to enhance resiliency is in demand across the city, but it is particularly needed in Red Hook itself. Connecting Red Hook residents—and youth in particular—to resiliency construction in Red Hook not only increases access to employment, but could also grow a skilled local workforce to implement resiliency improvements. Such improvements include building retrofits and larger infrastructure projects such as integrated flood protection. This provides workforce training in construction of resilient infrastructure or building improvements.
The Solution
This project has created a training of Red Hook youth and adults—particularly low-income individuals with limited employment experience and/or education—and connect them to employment opportunities related to the construction of resilient infrastructure or building improvements. The program is administered by a local workforce development organization, SBIDC working with a coalition, including RHI and GSS and BWI. Recruitment of applicants, provision of appropriate and high quality instruction, establishing relationships with apprenticeship programs, and ensuring job placement are amongst the most challenging and critical functions that administrators work to ensure. Currently the project is focused on jobs related to solar power, green infrastructure and construction jobs
RRH Action
Funded through the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery NY Rising process, the coalition has created the Resilience Education Training and Innovation Center modeled on the RDM Campus in Rotterdam. RRH is working closely with RETI to integrate workforce development across all projects and initiatives we support.