Ossining, Peekskill Receive Grant for Pre-apprenticeship Program

Ossining Union Free School District has received a one-year grant of $16,000 to support planning for pre-apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing at Ossining and Peekskill high schools. This grant was made possible by the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Trust.

The grant will help Ossining and Peekskill high schools to develop a pipeline of highly skilled workers for advanced manufacturing jobs. The pre-apprenticeship programs will provide students with hands-on experience, technical training, and industry-specific skills that are highly sought after by local employers.

"We are grateful for the support of the Westchester Community Foundation and the Katherine C. & David E. Moore Fund for Community Development," said Ossining Superintendent Dr. Raymond Sanchez. "This grant will enable us to expand our efforts to prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers in advanced manufacturing. We believe that these pre-apprenticeship programs will help to close the skills gap in our region and provide new opportunities for our scholars."

Grant funds will allow both districts to describe characteristics of advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship programs in New York State, including curricula and hands-on learning opportunities; identify local partnerships with potential employers as well as Northern Westchester BOCES and Westchester Community College, that could support an Ossining-Peekskill advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program; and develop a plan for the districts to establish an advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program, including staffing needs and curriculum requirements.

“With the support provided by this grant, we are able to create a high-tech road map for our scholars as they examine their career pathways,” said Peekskill Superintendent Dr. David Mauricio. “This pre-apprenticeship program not only provides hands-on learning experiences and the skills needed to enter the workforce, it does so on the local level, allowing our students to seamlessly find employment with nearby partners in the advanced manufacturing field. We are grateful that our scholars are able to be a part of this wonderful opportunity.”

Through this program, Ossining and Peekskill students will be exposed to the latest technologies, processes, and techniques that will prepare them for successful careers in manufacturing, allowing the districts to meet a critical need to develop a skilled and capable workforce that can meet the demands of a rapidly changing industry.

Westchester Community Foundation’s mission is to connect generous people to the causes they care about and invest in transformative ideas and organizations to improve lives and strengthen our community. WCF is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country, with assets of approximately $3 billion.