With Unemployment Insurance benefits about to expire for 200,000 out-of-work New Yorkers, and with action in Washington to extend benefits uncertain, the state Department of Labor is highlighting a program to help New York's long-term unemployed get back to work.

The $3.8 million program, called On-the-Job Training (OJT), also incentivizes employers to hire by offsetting up to 90 percent of the costs of training new hires.

State Labor Commissioner Colleen Gardner says that she frequently hears from businesses that “the cost of training new employees cuts into their bottom line, which is one of the reasons some are not hiring. OJT takes some of the burden of cost off the business, making it easier to hire new workers and bring them up to speed, which will eventually help them increase their profit margin."

An OJT grant returns up to 90 percent of newly hired trainees’ pay until the employees are is proficient in their new jobs. Private sector, for-profit and not-for-profit businesses are eligible to apply for the grants. The training must take place at a physical business location in New York State. The job the employee is training for must be a full-time job (35 hours or more per week).

Businesses interested in more information about applying for On-the-Job Training grants should send an email to StateOJT@labor.ny.gov. Put "Intent to Apply" in the subject line and include the following information in the body of the e-mail:

• Business or Intermediary Name

• Address

• Federal Employer Identification Numbers (FEIN)

• Contact Person

• Name

• Title

• Phone Number

• E-mail Address

• Title and salary range for each anticipated position.

Once the email is received, the application will be assigned to local and regional staff to assist in preparing the application.

More info is available from the North CountryRegional Business Services liaison Michelle A. Clark, OneWorkSource Center, 194 US Oval, Plattsburgh, NY 12903, (518) 561-0430, ext. 3065, or michelle.clark@labor.ny.gov.