Press Releases

Binghamton, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today announced that the Waverly Central School District will receive $124,605 in federal funding to help graduates with disabilities transition to the workforce and obtain meaningful, local employment.

The federal funding is available through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal economic development agency that promotes community development, job creation, and quality of life enhancements. With these funds the ARC, in collaboration with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County, will provide 15 graduates with disabilities with individualized instruction, job coaching, and a 400-hour paid internship program. The funding will also be used to provide training and support to participating employers to ensure they can effectively meet the needs of their employees.

Rep. Molinaro said, “I founded the Think DIFFERENTLY initiative in 2015 to break down barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, and have pushed in Congress for more resources to make it happen. Today, I’m proud to announce that over $100,000 in federal funding is going to Tioga County to help recent graduates with disabilities from the Waverly Central School District obtain meaningful employment opportunities. This is a meaningful step toward our goal of ensuring every person of every ability can work and contribute in our community.”

Dr. Eric Knolles, Superintendent for Waverly Central School District said, “We appreciate Congressman Molinaro’s support and advocacy for individuals with special needs. Project Launch is using ARC funds to identify graduates from the special needs community who have not found success in the work force. The program then works with Tioga County to place the students in meaningful positions in the school while working on job skills and career preparation.”