WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT

Our Workforce & Economic Development seeks to create avenues for economic empowerment through educational attainment, intentional programming, skills and career readiness training, mentorship, and employment outreach services. Youth and young adults ages 14-24 have access to paid work experience opportunities with local businesses, skilled trade apprenticeships and training programs with our community partners.

 Through our workforce development programs, we provide education, job training, and employment services that ensure individuals are prepared to secure employment opportunities leading to economic self-reliance. High educational achievement is a critical pathway to fostering gainful employment.

PROGRAMS

You Only Live Once (YOLO)

For eligible out of school youth, 16 – 24 in need of their high school equivalency (HSE). In the YOLO program, the youth will learn basic job readiness skills with a focus on their HSE. This exciting program provides services including classroom training, on-the job training, job shadowing, and work experience with the opportunity to earn monetary stipends. The YOLO program focuses on preparing youth for career pathways in areas consistent with the needs of the labor market, such as advanced manufacturing, health care, hospitality, and tourism. Based on need, youth can participate in programming for up to 30 hours per week for 26 weeks. 

TRAINING: Northland Workforce Training Center

Working as a partner along with Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and Goodwill Industries, the Buffalo Urban League provides assistance to students 18 and over who are interested in advanced manufacturing and energy sector career opportunities and pathways. Through the program’s SUNY educational partners, ECC and Alfred State, individuals accepted into this program will be eligible for credit, certificate and associate degrees.

Employment

Through our employment transition services, we serve residents of Erie County, ages 18 and over, who are unemployed, underemployed, dislocated workers or seeking employment change. Individual assessments are made to determine the specific services required for an individual to address their needs and barriers so that they can become an active job seeker and compete in the labor market. As a part of our outreach plan, services are provided twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday, at the Buffalo Employment and Training Center. (BETC)