Borough of Manhattan Community College of The City University of New York (BMCC), and The State University of New York (SUNY) Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC) have been awarded a $3 million U.S. Department of Labor, Community-Based Job Training Grant to help prepare a labor force for new healthcare IT jobs and other high-growth healthcare occupations.
The four healthcare occupations the New York State Department of Labor designated as having the greatest projected growth through 2016 are:
- Electronic health records specialist
- Health information technologist
- Certified nursing assistant
- Medical assistant specialist
The three-year training project will serve and place in jobs more than 650 individuals 18 years of age and older who are either unemployed, dislocated or incumbent workers or veterans (and their spouses) – groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the current recession, according to the terms of the grant.
Founded in 1966 and administered by the Borough of Manhattan Community College of The City University of New York, the SUNY/MEOC is located in Harlem, and has served thousands of low-income New Yorkers from all five boroughs.
The new grant will enhance BMCC's and SUNY/MEOC's ability to provide training relevant to today's complex workforce.
"Through this generous federal grant, the MEOC will offer training in healthcare employment areas that are not just surviving, but thriving in our current economy," said BMCC President Antonio Pérez. "Individuals who complete the training will acquire competitive skills to build better lives, economically and pursue meaningful careers that improve the quality of care that people receive in hospitals, clinics and other medical settings."
The new healthcare training programs will be added to a spectrum of free academic and workforce development offerings at MEOC including GED, college prep and English as a second language classes; a development assistant program (preparing people to work in nonprofit development offices), as well as PC repair and security officer training programs. In addition, students at MEOC take advantage of academic counseling and job development services, a computer lab featuring self-paced academic and vocational software, and specially trained tutors.
"For over 40 years, SUNY/MEOC has helped thousands of individuals develop their academic, English-language and workforce skills," said William Chalmers, SUNY assistant provost and director, University Center for Academic and Workforce Development.
"MEOC's comprehensive programs – which also offer counseling and workplace support – respond to students' goals to seek post-secondary education, and avail themselves of the latest trends in employment," Chalmers said. "New York City's healthcare system, the fastest growing sector of the city's economy, reflects job opportunities our students will be well prepared to access, having completed training provided by this $3 million U.S. Department of Labor, Community-Based Job Training Grant."
