Partnership between Rochester Urban League’s YouthBuild program and US Ceiling Corp aims to bolster and diversify construction community, and help at-risk young adults and priority populations transition to workforce and fill demand for skilled tradespeople
ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 16, 2019 – On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25) will tour a skilled trades training and workforce development center dedicated to serving at-risk young adults and priority populations in the Greater Rochester area. The 4,000 SF space located at 439 Central Avenue is shared by the Urban League of Rochester’s YouthBuild program and Webster-based subcontractor, US Ceiling Corp, whose joint mission is to foster and promote diversity in construction, and empower lives.
“The training center is a vital contribution that continues to bolster the community and cultivate a new generation of skilled trades workers,” says Morelle. “The only way New York State can secure its building future is by enhancing the skill sets of our existing construction workforce and having highly motivated and qualified workers in the pipeline.”
“The nation’s ability to reconnect unemployed and undereducated young adults is essential for economic productivity,” says John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild USA. “YouthBuild is a movement of young leaders working to make a change in their lives and their communities, and it wouldn’t be possible without continued bipartisan support for the Department of Labor YouthBuild grant program. Thank you, Congressman Joseph Morelle, for demonstrated support of YouthBuild and for believing in the power of our young people.”
“I want to thank Congressman Morelle for his continued commitment to the Rochester community and staunch support of our organization and its programs,” says William G. Clark, outgoing president and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester. We are encouraged by his leadership as we work to help at-risk and underrepresented individuals gain access to hands-on, in-demand training that can transform their lives.”
“Our company’s success is due in large part to the support and opportunities provided us by the Urban League of Rochester’s Small Business Expansion Program and Economic Development Corporation,” says US Ceiling Corp President Melissa Geska. As such, I am deeply committed to not only enhancing the skills and capacity of our diverse workforce through our USC Academy, but also reaching back to help others in our community who want to build a better future for themselves through the skilled trades.”
YouthBuild Rochester serves disadvantaged and at-risk young adults aged 18 to 24. Using a dual-program model that combines academic instruction and skills training, participants work toward the completion of a high school diploma or GED and earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand construction trades while gaining hands-on experience.
To date, the shared training space has accommodated two YouthBuild cohorts and continues to serve individuals who take part in the Urban League of Rochester’s Urban Apprentice Jobs Training and Reentry programs, as well as US Ceiling Corp employees enrolled in the company’s USC Academy.
About the Urban League of Rochester
The Urban League of Rochester (ULR) was founded in 1965 as an affiliate of the National Urban League and has run the YouthBuild program since 1996. ULR is also an affiliate of the nationally recognized YouthBuild USA Network, which provides support and a learning network for YouthBuild program staff across the country.
About US Ceiling Corp
Founded in 2001, US Ceiling Corp is a NYS Certified M/WDBE subcontracting firm that offers extensive experience in commercial, multifamily and residential construction, including acoustical ceilings and drywall; insulation and air barrier systems; metal stud and wood framing; finished carpentry and general trades; and construction management. The Webster, N.Y.-based firm’s consistent stability and growth stem from the hard work and dedication demonstrated across its expanding footprint, allowing a broad reach of services for local and out-of-town projects. With an unwavering commitment to diversify the construction industry, US Ceiling Corp is committed to empowering the Rochester community and partners with like-minded organizations in the area, including Rochester Urban League’s YouthBuild Program, to provide skilled training and employment opportunities.
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