In Rochester, Gillibrand Pushes For Funding To Support Workforce Development At Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program

In Rochester, Gillibrand Pushes For Funding To Support Workforce Development At Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program

Sep 2, 2025

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, highlighted the significance of the $2 million in congressionally directed spending (CDS) she is working to secure for the Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program's (M.A.P.P.) workforce development efforts.

"Apprenticeships are vital for expanding opportunity, and M.A.P.P. does incredible work investing in our communities and addressing disparities for workers in underserved populations," said Senator Gillibrand. "I am proud to be fighting to secure $2 million in federal funding to support M.A.P.P.'s work and build out a new state-of-the-art workforce development center. As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, it is always a privilege to deliver funding for projects that support our communities and connect people with good-paying jobs. In Washington, I'll keep fighting to get this critical funding across the finish line."

"Creating pathways for those who wish to enter a career in building and construction trades will reap benefits now and in the future. This investment of $2 million dollars into Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program (M.A.P.P.) will allow Rochester to thrive and ensure the backbone of our community will keep growing," said New York State Senator Samra Brouk. "I applaud Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her continual efforts to strengthen New York's workforce development, and I look forward to M.A.P.P. graduates using their skills to build up our community."

"As Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, I am a strong proponent of pre-apprenticeships because they are the vital first step for connecting students to meaningful workplace readiness opportunities," said New York State Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson. "In Rochester, MAPP has set the gold-standard for pre-apprenticeship programs with a focus on uplifting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully transition them, with direct entry, to qualified skilled trades apprenticeship programs. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for understanding the importance of MAPP's approach and supporting their work with a CDS request."

"The Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program is transforming opportunities in our community by opening doors to good-paying, union careers in the trades," said New York State Assemblymember Demond Meeks. "Too often, residents who are ready and willing to work have been shut out of these pathways. M.A.P.P. is breaking down those barriers and giving people the skills and confidence they need to succeed. With Senator Gillibrand working to secure this critical $2 million investment, we have the chance to build a Workforce Development Center right here in Rochester. This center will not only prepare people for careers that can support a family, but it will also strengthen our neighborhoods, drive economic growth, and ensure Rochester continues to build a brighter future from the ground up."

Included in the Senate Appropriations Committee's Fiscal Year 2026 THUD appropriations bill, the funding would be used to renovate and expand a workforce development center to provide pathways for careers in the building and construction trades. The bill was approved by the committee on a bipartisan basis and awaits passage by the full Senate and the House of Representatives.

About M.A.P.P.

The Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program is dedicated to offering individuals in the Rochester area a comprehensive introduction to and direct entry into a building and construction trades career track apprenticeship program. The program is designed to reach historically disadvantaged populations.

M.A.P.P. represents a unique and critically important partner in the necessary work of building vital and viable bridges between its target population, who are in and of the community, and the wide array of world-class construction trades apprenticeship program opportunities.

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