Last Friday, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Department of Social Services' Human Resources Administration (DSS/HRA), and the NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent) celebrated a major milestone for the Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers (PINCC) program: more than 1,300 low-income New Yorkers have now been connected to union and prevailing wage jobs since 2024.
The announcement follows last week's "PINCC Tools for Success" distribution event with District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), where more than 200 union apprentices received essential tools and protective equipment to begin their careers safely and successfully. PINCC connects participants to free career training, job placement and supportive services - including uniforms, tools, transportation assistance and background checks - helping New Yorker access and succeed in careers across the industrial, construction, transportation and building services sectors. The program is funded through an $18.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Good Jobs Challenge program.
"Working class New Yorkers deserve stable union jobs that can support a family and build a future," said Mayor Mamdani. "Talented people should not be locked out of these careers because they can't afford the tools, transportation, or certifications required to get started. This program removes those barriers and invests directly in the potential of our people."
For many workers, the cost of basic supplies and services can stand between them and a life-changing career opportunity. Programs like "PINCC Tools for Success" ensure apprentices have the equipment they need from day one. The initiative prioritizes recruitment of public assistance recipients, noncustodial parents and other low-income New Yorkers. The PINCC team hosts regular information sessions for interested applicants. To register for the next session, visit: https://pincc.nyc/infosession.
"Connecting 1,300 New Yorkers to union and prevailing wage jobs means ensuring workers share in the prosperity they help create," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. "When we invest in workers, we strengthen our economy and build a city that is more just and inclusive. By placing working people at the heart of our workforce strategy, we ensure New York's growth is truly sustainable."
"PINCC is a lifeline for so many hard-working New Yorkers, and today, we proudly celebrate the program's milestone of connecting more than 1,300 people to union and prevailing wage jobs," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, services like PINCC that secure stable, good-paying jobs are critical to the well-being of New Yorkers. I look forward to building upon this program's success and taking additional steps to create a city where everyone can afford to live with dignity."
"Expanding pathways to union and prevailing wage jobs is a critical for advancing economic justice in New York City," said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. "I'm incredibly proud that the PINCC program has now helped over 1,300 low-income New Yorkers obtain the kind of careers that position them for stability and success over the long term. We look forward to advancing these parentships and creating many more employment opportunities for the New Yorkers we serve."
"PINCC demonstrates the value of partnership in supporting a strong public workforce system," said NYC Talent Executive Director Doug Lipari. "By providing training, mentorship, and access to good union and prevailing wage jobs, PINCC expands opportunity to communities that have historically been locked out of the City's prosperity and economic growth."
Last week's announcement builds on the City's ongoing efforts to expand access to union jobs and strengthen labor standards. In November 2025, NYC Talent announced two Project Labor Agreements with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York covering more than $7 billion in City construction projects. The agreements guarantee fair pay, union benefits and workplace safety standards while expanding apprenticeship and union opportunities for underserved New Yorkers through community hiring requirements.
HRA also continues to host regular hiring halls through its Business Link program, connecting job seekers with employers actively hiring for open positions.
NYC Talent and its Resiliency, Manufacturing, Industrial, and Infrastructure Council (ReMaIIC) Industry Partnership work to coordinate workforce development strategies across manufacturing, industrial, construction, transportation, utilities, decarbonization, supply chain, waste and materials management, building operations and water systems. The partnership aligns workforce and economic development efforts to meet employer demand and support the skilled workforce needed to build and maintain New York City's infrastructure.
"The tool bag giveaway is more than just equipment - it's an investment in the future of our apprentices. Starting out in the construction industry can be challenging, and having the right tools, knowledge, and safety mindset from day one helps set our members up for success," said Joe Azzopardi, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer, DC9. "As DC9 union members, we take pride in being prepared, working safely, and carrying on the professionalism and craftsmanship that define our union. We thank CWE and the City of New York for understanding that."
"Union construction is a consistent creator of stable, family-sustaining careers that provide New Yorkers of all backgrounds a more accessible pathway to the middle class, and it is imperative that we continue to invest in programs that create these opportunities and also develop a highly-skilled workforce that can help push critical projects across the finish line," said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. "The Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers program plays a key role in boosting the industry's talent pipeline and connecting more hardworking people with these life-changing opportunities. We applaud Mayor Mamdani, DSS/HRA, and NYC Talent for their attention to and support of this crucial initiative and look forward to collaborating further."
"Union construction jobs give working people a real chance to build stable careers and support their families with dignity," said New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Brendan Griffith. "Programs like PINCC help make those opportunities more attainable by covering some of the upfront costs that can keep people from entering the trades, from tools to transportation. As our city continues to invest in major infrastructure and construction projects, we also need to invest in the workforce that will carry out that work. The New York City Central Labor Council is proud to support efforts that connect more New Yorkers to good union jobs and strengthen our city's skilled workforce. We thank the Mamdani Administration, HRA, NYC Talent, and the Consortium for Worker Education for their partnership in helping make these opportunities possible."
"CWE is proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani, District Council 9, NYC Talent, and HRA/DSS to help connect New Yorkers to union careers that provide family-sustaining wages, benefits, and long-term opportunity. Programs like PINCC show what is possible when labor, government, and workforce organizations work together to remove barriers and invest in workers' success. At a time when too many working people are being priced out of economic opportunity, union apprenticeship pathways remain one of the clearest routes into the middle class," said Marco Carrión, President of the Consortium for Worker Education.
"Union construction jobs give working people a real chance to build stable careers and support their families with dignity," said New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Brendan Griffith. "Programs like PINCC help make those opportunities more attainable by covering some of the upfront costs that can keep people from entering the trades, from tools to transportation. As our city continues to invest in major infrastructure and construction projects, we also need to invest in the workforce that will carry out that work. The New York City Central Labor Council is proud to support efforts that connect more New Yorkers to good union jobs and strengthen our city's skilled workforce. We thank the Mamdani Administration, HRA, NYC Talent, and the Consortium for Worker Education for their partnership in helping make these opportunities possible."
"PINCC has been instrumental in helping Pathways to Apprenticeship keep its mission to help under-serviced and marginalized residents of NYC gain access to union construction careers. By providing transportation support, students have an opportunity to travel, without worry, even when not in the classroom. This basic understanding of providing holistic assistance speaks to PINCC's knowledge that life events are happening outside of training and needs to be supported, just as much as the time in the classroom," said Gyasi Headen, Executive Director of Pathways to Apprenticeship.
