COURIER LIFE, AUG. 23-29, 2019 27
City offers grants to
construction fi rms
for safety training
Small construction companies can now apply for grants that
offset the cost of worksite safety training for employees.
Getty Images
BY BILL PARRY
Small-scale construction
fi rms in Brooklyn
and the other boroughs
of New York City can
now apply for one-time
grants from the city to
offset the cost of site
training safety for their
workers.
Firms located in the
fi ve boroughs with one to
15 employees, and NYCcertifi
ed M/WBE construction
fi rms with one
to 15 employees in the
region, are eligible for
the one-time grant administered
by the NYC
Department of Small
Business Services.
These grants help
businesses comply with
Local Law 196 of 2017, requiring
most construction
workers to obtain
Site Safety training by
Sept. 1, 2020. Up to 40,000
construction workers
can benefi t from Site
Safety training through
this program as employees
of small businesses.
“SBS is committed to
equity of opportunity,
and that includes helping
our small construction
businesses to keep
their workers safe on
the job,” Department of
Small Business Services
Commissioner Gregg
Bishop said. “These
grants will allow small
construction fi rms to
provide necessary training
to their workers
more quickly, and help
them thrive in this key
economic sector.”
Businesses may
choose a training provider
that is best for
their business from a
list approved by the Department
of Buildings.
Eligible construction
fi rms can apply for the
grant online or obtain
more information by
calling 311.
Businesses are required
to submit information
that demonstrates
their eligibility
and completion of training
with an authorized
provider. An analyst
will review the application
and SBS will provide
up to 100% reimbursement
within two
months after the application
is fi nalized.
“Every worker who
leaves for a job site in
the morning deserves
to come home safely
at night,” Department
of Buildings Commissioner
Melanie La Rocca
said. “We’re proud to
work with our partners
at SBS to make it easier
for workers at small
construction fi rms to
get the safety training
they need. This training
is required by law, but
even more importantly,
it can save lives.”
For more information,
visit nyc.gov/sbs or
call 311.
MAX
/sbs
