Assemblyman Buchwald Successfully Fights to Add White Plains to the NY Youth Works Program

Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that the 2013-2014 state Budget will renew the NY Youth Works Program to support job training and employment for eligible youth, and will include White Plains as an eligible city for the first time in the program’s history (A.3009-D). The program will provide for a $24 million tax credit over four years for employers who hire unemployed youth 16 to 24 years of age who reside in a city of more than 55,000 or a town of 480,000.

“This program gives opportunities to unemployed and disadvantaged youths who may otherwise struggle during this critical part of their lives to begin a career or gain valuable work experience,” Assemblyman Buchwald said. “By providing tax credit incentives for businesses, we are making it easier and more affordable for them to hire eligible youths residing in White Plains.”

The NY Youth Works Program was signed into law on December 9, 2011 to encourage businesses to hire unemployed, disadvantaged youths. Prior to its inclusion in this year’s state budget, the city of White Plains had just missed the population threshold required to be included in the NY Youth Works program. Assemblyman Buchwald noted that in 2012, agencies like the White Plains Youth Bureau were forced to cut employment opportunities for the city’s youth by 17.5 percent because of cuts in state funding.

 “Inclusion of White Plains in the NY Youth Works program opens up a host of employment options for local disadvantaged youth and provides our small businesses with resources to expand their workforce,” White Plains Mayor Tom Roach said. “NY Youth Works is a positive stepping stone for our community, and it is my hope that White Plains will be able to continue building on programs like this in order to bring about even more opportunities for both our youth and our local businesses.”

“I have worked with Assemblyman Buchwald for years as he has fought tirelessly to ensure White Plains has the necessary resources to continue helping disadvantaged youth find employment,” Frank Williams Jr., Executive Director of the White Plains Youth Bureau said. “His dedication to this issue will result in countless opportunities for our city’s youth to build successful careers and bright futures, and the Youth Bureau cannot thank him enough.”

The program and credit would be available to employers in the clean energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and conservation industries. Eligible employers would receive up to $4,000 if they retain the workers for an entire year. The program would be extended through 2017.