Cayuga County receives $400,000 for jobs and training for youth

The county will receive the funds from the state's youth employment program, according to a press release from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance on Thursday.

The program works to reduce gun violence by providing jobs and training opportunities to at-risk youth.

The funding is part of a $3,053,407 package for the Central New York region. Cayuga County will receive $401,868, while Onondaga County will receive $2,651,539.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday a total of $40 million in statewide funding for the Youth Employment Program. The goal of the funding is to provide jobs and training to approximately 2,500 low-income, at-risk youth across the state from September 2024 to June 2025. The program is part of the state's initiative to eliminate firearm violence, which is being implemented in 21 counties outside of New York City.

“Public safety is my top priority and I will never stop fighting for the safety of the people of this state and advocating to protect our most vulnerable youth,” Hochul said in the press release.

“The Youth Employment Program reinforces my administration’s comprehensive approach to ending the scourge of gun violence in communities across New York State, while providing at-risk youth with valuable work experience and skills that will enable them to have a secure future.”