LI Charity 1 Of 14 NY Projects To Received $7 Million In Grant Funding

DEER PARK, NY — A Long Island non-profit that supports families in need was just named one out of several organizations to receive a state grant award, totaling $7 million.

United Way of Long Island received $249,000 from New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development, as part of the Workforce Development Capital and Pay for Performance Grant Programs, Governor Kathy Hochul's Office announced on Thursday.

The grant will be used for the non-profit's free Power Up Wind, Solar & Renewables training program, which strives to create "pathways for culturally diverse young adults to secure careers in renewable energy, clean tech, offshore wind, solar, and advanced manufacturing" a release said.

The program was developed with input from industry partners to ensure it is responsive to industry needs, as well as providing trainees transferable and industry-recognized skills.

United Way of Long Island is one of 14 projects across the state to receive these grants. This is the second round of grants distributed for the program, a release said.

“We applaud Governor Hochul for making an investment in Long Island’s future and are grateful for Empire State Development Corporation’s Pay for Performance Operating Grant of $249,000 to expand United Way of Long Island’s footprint," said Theresa Regnante, President and CEO, United Way of Long Island. " Two years ago, Bank of America’s initial grant helped advance our mission focus and strategy to create career pathways in the offshore wind, renewable/sustainable, smart grid, and green construction industries."

Deer Park-based United Way of Long Island provides assistance on the "building blocks" of health, education, and financial stability. It strives to attain racial equity on the island, and also implements affordable housing through its Healthy Homes Long Island initiative.

It also strives to help local veterans. A charity partner for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon, the non-profit recently announced it raised more than $28,000 in support of U.S. military veterans and their families on Long Island.

The non-profit also recently welcomed a new board chair, Lynda Nicolino, Chief Legal Counsel of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, as well as new board members.

"The most important investment we can make is in the people of New York," Governor Hochul said. "Our new Office of Strategic Workforce Development will support the needs of New York's businesses while providing resources to training programs that are removing long-standing barriers to the training and skills necessary to thrive in the workforce of the future."

The first round of awards for the Office of Strategic Workforce Development which was announced late last year, awarded more than $6 million and will leverage more than $4 million in public/private funding and support nearly 3,000 trainees for over 100 business partners.