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Walking through the
spacious Buffalo Employment Training Center, Jill
Benker-Beck reflected on the building’s former
occupant: clothes maker M. Wile.
“This building has a
vibrancy,” she said. “It employed thousands of
people as a factory.”
The center aims to
help people find jobs or improve their skills. And
according to newly released figures, it’s helped the
area achieve nearly all of its initial work force
development goals.
The county met or
exceeded 11 of its 15 state-approved performance
goals under the first year of the Buffalo and Erie
County Workforce Investment Program, said James
Finamore, executive director of the Workforce
Investment Board.
The board coordinates
local efforts under the Workforce Investment Act,
and the center on Goodell Street – along with a
similar center in Orchard Park – are on the front
lines of training workers and matching them up with
employers.
“I think in anyone’s
opinion, no question, that is a very successful
first year,” Finamore said.
The first year of the
program ended last June 30, but the statistics were
just released. Two other statistics involving
customer satisfaction aren’t yet in; the state is
still collecting those numbers through surveys.
In three cases, the
area’s program missed its goals by only one to three
percentage points, Finamore said. “I think the
(Workforce Investment Board) pretty much feels that
represents an attainment of the goals.”
Goals vs. Results
How the Buffalo and
Erie County Workforce Investment Program fared in
its first year*. Compared to state-approved
performance goals:
| |
State Approved Level |
Actual Results |
Participants Who
Got Jobs |
|
|
|
Adults |
79% |
76% |
|
Dislocated Workers |
82% |
79% |
|
Older Youth |
70% |
76% |
| |
|
|
|
Remained with Employer after 6 months |
|
|
|
Adults |
80% |
80% |
|
Dislocated Workers |
86% |
85% |
|
Older Youth |
75% |
85% |
| |
|
|
Earnings Change in
6 months |
|
|
|
Adults |
$3,000 |
$3,014 |
|
Older Youth |
$3,200 |
$3,577 |
| |
|
|
|
Earned Credential/Diploma |
|
|
|
Adults |
30% |
58% |
|
Dislocated Workers |
30% |
43% |
|
Older Youth |
40% |
63% |
|
Skill Attainment Rate |
60% |
100% |
| |
|
|
|
*For year ending
June 30, 2001 |
The statistics tracked the employment and retention
rates of people who received services from the
program, as well as their change in earnings and
diplomas of credentials they earned.
“In the current year,
we’re looking for even better improvement on this
performance, and with everybody working together I’m
sure we’re going to get there” Finamore said.
More than 2,000
people - adults, dislocated workers and youths –
enrolled in the local program to receive services.
More than 800 of them received jobs, paying an
average of $11.50 an hour, and 82 percent of them
were still working after six months, said Mayor
Anthony M. Masiello, during a Friday appearance at
the Buffalo training center.
“Here in Buffalo New
York, there are still a lot of people who need to
find work. And you’re their last opportunity to do
that,” Masiello said to the center’s staff.
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