Monroe County construction training program receives $250,000

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — TRACS, a program created to train young people to work in the construction industry, received a $250,000 three-year commitment from Monroe County.

The county executive says Monroe’s industrial development agency, COMIDA, is taking some of the fees companies pay to do business in the area and they’re pouring it back into the workforce.

TRACS stands for Training Rochester Adults in Construction Skills. Over an eight-week period it does just that getting students certified in scaffold training, CPR and other skills.

The second class graduated last month. A current TRACS student says a lot of young people don’t realize the benefits of pursuing a union construction career.

“I think that young people should look into because there is a lot of money to be made a lot of opportunities,” Najm Dowdell said.

Participants receive a $2,400 stipend during the pre-apprenticeship program. TRACS partners with the Urban League of Rochester to help recruit candidates and support them as they complete the program.

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