The exterior of the Herkimer Municipal Hall is looking much brighter these days. The Herkimer County Employment in Training program, (HCET) offered through the Working Solutions Career Center, have spent the past two weeks designing, constructing and mounting flower boxes on the windows of the first floor. The students, together with their supervisor, Mike Viana, utilized the carpentry shop at BOCES to build the boxes. Materials were supplied by the village for the construction. “This really is a fantastic program,” said Viana, “The kids get hands-on experience in whatever field they choose to work in.”
This summer, the program has been expanded significantly. With funding received from the stimulus package, HCET decided to reach out into the community for suggestions. BOCES responded to the inquiry, offering the kids employment and training in environmental studies, business information, as well as a culinary arts and baking program. In addition, BOCES is also hosting a Youth Career Camp geared to 14 and 15 year olds, teaching them basic job skill sets.
Herkimer County Community College also responded to the inquiry, offering a class in Applied Computer Forensics. This course, open to 18 - 24 year olds, is held at the college and students are taught computer skills as applied to the field of forensics.
“This has been a really exciting year for us,” said Karen Zipko, coordinator for the HCET program, “BOCES and HCCC really stepped up. The creativity of their employment offerings and the funding received through the stimulus package have made it the best year we have ever had. Though the program has only been underway for just over about two weeks, thus far the feedback has been extremely positive,” Zipko continued.
The program offers young people the opportunity to work within a chosen field, learning the ins and outs of the job. It also offers training in job readyness skills, including writing cover letters and resumes. Participants are paid for the time that they are working in their chosen field. Counsellors from the HCET make weekly visits to each job site, evaluating student performance. The six week program runs this year from July 6 - Aug. 14. Applications for the program go out in May and are due back at the office by June 1. The program is open to Herkimer-Oneida-Madison County residents ages 14 - 24. For more information on enrollment for next year’s program, contact the Working Solutions Career Center at 867-1400.
Herkimer, N.Y. —
