White Plains Firm Boosts County Job Training Program

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Residents with jobs can learn new skills through their employers, and those looking for work can learn them at a One-Stop facility in White Plains, as part of an initiative to equip employees with the skills that businesses want.

Robert Sanders is the president of Hospitality Resource Group Inc. which will oversee a Westchester County job training initiative to connect businesses with grant money.
Photo Credit: *Brian Donnelly*

by Brian Donnelly

12/27/2012 7:00 p.m.

Hospitality Resource Group Inc., based in White Plains, will help connect local businesses with grant money to offset the cost of training new and current employees through the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Investment Board, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced.

The board has trained more than 1,000 Westchester residents and given $640,000 in state and federal aid to businesses for this training. It expects those numbers to grow with the help of HRG, which will be paid $42,500 for the year.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to partner with the county on this important project,” said Robert Sanders, president of HRG. “We hope to deliver tangible results to the community that help produce important jobs and job retention throughout the county.”

With more training, current employees can learn skills that will allow them to advance to higher positions, thus opening up jobs for someone else, Sanders said. Those looking for work can learn skills specific to their fields at the One-Stop training facility at 120 Bloomindale Road.

HRG, which provides training solutions, event programs and marketing services, will oversee the program and work with leaders in all six business sectors: health care, manufacturing, green jobs, life sciences, business services and hospitality. Sanders sits on the Workforce Investment Board and is the chair of the hospitality sector partnership, he said.

“My administration is committed to helping employers find qualified, trained people to fill their jobs,” Astorino said. “However, each sector has different needs. By focusing on each one separately, we maximize results.”

Some of the training costs may also be subsidized by the Workforce Investment Board.

“I think we can do even more to help local business owners to train their workers,” said board Chairman David Singer, president of Robison Oil. “HRG has been involved in the sector partnerships from the start and understands our vision, so I expect great things for this program under their direction.”

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