THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CELEBRATES NATIONAL APPREN...

Department Awards Nearly $500,000 to Support Registered Apprenticeship Expansion in the Finger Lakes

Event Sound and B-Roll , Photos

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today announced $492,740 in funding to expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in the Finger Lakes region. National Apprenticeship Week celebrates apprenticeship as a pathway to careers in today's most in-demand fields. These grants are part of Governor Kathy Hochul's vision to make New York an affordable state to work, live, and raise a family.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Registered apprenticeships play a major role in the lives of families statewide and in Governor Hochul's strategic plan for economic prosperity. Apprentices earn money while learning the skills they need while employers receive knowledgeable workforce to help them meet business demands. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to champion this workforce development model that is good for workers, businesses, and New York's economy."

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• Lifetime Assistance, Inc. - $298,740
  Lifetime Assistance, Inc. provides supports and services for people with intellectual and development disabilities. Funding will support their Direct Support Professional and Direct Support Professional Supervisor Registered Apprenticeship programs, which align with the Agency's commitment to empowering both new and existing employees by offering a structured path to build skills, advance their careers, and better serve the people they support.
• Rochester Careers in Construction, Inc. - $194,000
  Rochester Careers in Construction, Inc. is a local non-profit focusing on exposing New Yorkers to careers in the construction trades through community education and pre-apprenticeship program training. Funding will support Training Rochester Adults in Construction Skills (TRACS), a certified eight-week Direct Entry pre-apprenticeship program designed to provide participants with the foundational skills needed to launch a union construction career.

Lifetime Assistance, Inc. President and CEO Bryan O'Donovan said, "We are grateful to the New York State Department of Labor for their incredible support and investment in our apprenticeship program. We believe that investing in our workforce is one of the most powerful ways to deliver exceptional, consistent, and person-centered care, and this grant for our apprenticeship program allows us to broaden that impact across the Agency."

UNiCON Executive Director and Rochester Careers in Construction, Inc. President Joseph Morelle Jr. said, "We're grateful to the New York State Department of Labor, Commissioner Reardon, and Governor Kathy Hochul for this investment in workforce development. This funding is a major step forward in building a stronger, more inclusive construction workforce in Rochester. Through TRACS, we're creating real pathways for people to enter the trades, earn good wages, and build long-term careers. This support allows us to expand that impact and connect more individuals to opportunities that can truly change their lives."

Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, "As Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, I know our economic strength is only as great as our investment in working people. Apprenticeships bridge the gap between education and opportunity - providing New Yorkers with the skills, stability, and equity they deserve in the workplace. If New York is going to lead in emerging and growing industries, we need to align our workforce development strategies with our economic development investments. Apprenticeships aren't just good for workers - they're good for business, good for communities, and good for our state's future."

Registered apprenticeships provide New Yorkers with quality hands-on learning, meaningful work experience, and a family-sustaining wage, often without the burden of student debt. Programs span a wide range of high-demand industries, including cybersecurity, healthcare, information technology, financial services, childcare, K-12 education, transportation, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.

Thanks to Governor Hochul's continued support of this successful workforce development model, New York State remains a national leader in providing viable pathways to exciting new careers. As of December 2025, NYSDOL supported more than 18,000 apprentices across more than 900 programs statewide offered by nearly 600 new sponsors. In 2025 alone, NYSDOL approved 107 new programs, 44 new sponsors, and 17 new trades.

New Yorkers interested in learning more about registered apprenticeships can visit the NYSDOL Apprenticeship Webpage. Businesses interested in sponsoring a program can learn more by visiting the NYSDOL Apprenticeship Sponsor Webpage.

Link to sound and b-roll of the event :

00:02 - 02:13 Commissioner Roberta Reardon

02:16 - 02:21 Bryan O'Donovan, President & CEO of Lifetime Assistance, Inc.

02:24 - 02:32 Joe Morelle Jr., Executive Director of UNiCON

02:32 - 4:03 B-Roll

Link to images from National Apprenticeship Week :