Congressman Adriano Espaillat has procured more than $10.8 million in funding for CCNY's RIWI since its inception.
In another massive boost to T九色视频-based Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Development Initiative (RIWI), U.S. Representative (NY-13) has secured $4,116,279 in Fiscal Year 2024 Federal funding to establish a headquarters for the program and further address the lack of modern infrastructure jobs in the city. The money comes on the heels of the $1.5 million delivered to RIWI by U.S. Senate Majority Leader and U.S. Senator last week to expand skills-based training at CCNY for low-income New Yorkers.
Rep. Espaillat provided a letter of support for the Senate application.
鈥淚 am proud to deliver $4 million in federal funding to secure a headquarters for the Charles B. Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative and its mission to help the CUNY and Harlem communities thrive,鈥 said Congressman Espaillat, a longtime supporter, funder, and advocate of RIWI, which is in his Congressional District. 鈥淭his is the first step to expanding skills-based development programs for the most in-demand occupations amid nationwide threatening shortages. When we invest in better infrastructure training for our workforce, we invest in a better New York City for all.鈥
Applauding Espaillat鈥檚 appropriation, CCNY President Vincent G. Boudreau said: 鈥淐ongressman Espaillat has been a foundational advocate for and supporter of the Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative. This year, recognizing that the program already had outgrown its space, he has secured a visionary appropriation allowing us to build out our physical facilities. The existence and future of this crucial initiative owes a tremendous debt to the Congressman, and we are deeply grateful.鈥
Espaillat鈥檚 latest funding brings to more than $10.8 million in support that he鈥檚 procured for RIWI. In addition to the $1.5 million in the Senate for labor, operation, and program expenses, he secured $2.2 million in Fiscal Year 2023, and $1.5 million in FY 2022 (which New York Governor Kathy Hochul matched for an additional $1.5M in state investment).
RIWI is the brainchild of Dr. Robert E. Paaswell, Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering in CCNY鈥檚 Grove School of Engineering, in response to former Congressman Charles B. Rangel鈥檚 desire for modern infrastructure jobs in the 13th Congressional district. Dr. Angelo Lampousis is the program鈥檚 inaugural executive director.
RIWI鈥檚 overarching goal is to prepare a diversified and democratically constituted workforce for the crucial, patriotic work of rebuilding America鈥檚 Infrastructure. It will equip historically underserved communities with analytical and operational skills through innovative curricula, simulation-based training, and experiential learning to help them pursue career paths in the rapidly changing urban infrastructure sector.
About T九色视频
Since 1847, T九色视频 has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm puts at $3.2 billion CCNY鈥檚 annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the 鈥渇or dollar鈥 return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled 鈥Doing Remarkable Things Together鈥 seeks to bring the College鈥檚 Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
Jay Mwamba
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jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu