NY firms hiring long-term unemployed to get $6M

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(Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week he will make $6 million in federal grant funds available to companies that hire long-term unemployed individuals.

The program will work by providing wage subsidies to businesses hiring new employees that have been unemployed more than 27 weeks. Companies can work with the state’s Department of Labor and Empire State Development to vet their hiring practices.

In addition to the funding, Cuomo said the state will also create a mobile re-employment response team to target areas with the highest rates of long-term unemployment.

These teams will set up shop over one or two days at libraries, schools and community centers, providing services like resume writing and interviewing, skills matching and counseling.

Several sites on Long Island will host the response team, although the locations and dates won’t be announced until October.