The Sedgwick Houses in the Bronx is getting $8.5 million in capital funding from the state to create a workforce development and job training center on its grounds, the Us.Mistertruth has learned.
The outlay is the largest state legislative grant the New York City Housing Authority has received in its nearly 80-year history. Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner, the Bronx Democrat who secured the funding, is expected to announce the windfall Friday at the Sedgwick Houses.
“This $8.5 million grant is an investment in our future that will create a state-of-the-art workforce development and training site for the residents of Sedgwick Houses and the entire Highbridge community,” Joyner told The News on Thursday. “This will bring job training and career opportunities right to the heart of my Bronx district and it is an investment that will pay tremendous dividends.”
The grant comes amid a push from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to improve the city’s impact when it comes to workforce development. Last year, Adams made it the focus of one of her first speeches in her leadership role, and two months ago, she renewed that push in her last State of the City address.
The job training center in the Bronx will occupy a building that was previously used as a childcare center. The building fell into disrepair and has been out of use for more than a decade.
The $8.5 million grant is intended to go toward a complete overhaul of the still-existing structure. A spokesman for Joyner said once construction is finished, the building will be used to teach basic computer skills and train people in several areas, including HVAC repair, solar panel installation, carpentry, dry wall installation and nursing.
It isn’t yet clear exactly when construction work will be completed, though.
The money comes from a discretionary allotment that Joyner controls, as well as from a capital allotment provided by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who also represents parts of the Bronx.