How Syracuse Build’s New Director Christopher Montgomery is Mobilizing a Local Workforce

Posted on February 17, 2022

Image
Slider 660x330

The planned reconstruction of Interstate 81 will remake portions of the South Side as well as downtown, creating hundreds of jobs as soon as this year. Intentional efforts are underway to ensure local and minority workers are hired to fill these needs thanks to a collaborative effort by the city of Syracuse, Onondaga County, CenterState CEO and Central & Northern New York Building Trades Council. 

Meet Christopher Montgomery: Serving as director of Syracuse Build since July, Montgomery is the public point-of-contact in developing the city’s pre-apprenticeship training initiative to connect residents to local positions in construction.
 

Together these groups are united by the newly installed director of Syracuse Build, Christopher Montgomery, who shares that his very first job was actually in construction. 

“Working for the family business — CC Paving & Excavating,” he said. “I started helping out at an early age and worked throughout high school and into college. It gave me knowledge of what construction entails, like, working in all weather conditions and being up at 6 a.m.” 

A large component of the initiative includes the Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program. This paid training aims to expand access to the building trades for women, minorities and veterans. Montgomery says he’s exploring ways to enhance it in the future by possibly offering two separate cohorts at once due to the demand he sees. 

Applications to join the third cohort will be accepted until Feb. 24.

Read Chris' Q&A with The Stand, here.

Other
Media Coverage

Image
City of Syracuse
Media Coverage | 09/08/2023

Two Central New York Consortiums Are Finalists For Defense Manufacturing Program

The Upstate Defense Consortium, in partnership with Empire State Development, CenterState CEO, the Griffiss Institute, Syracuse Universit

Image
Rob Emergent 2023
Media Coverage | 08/28/2023

Emergent's Driving Leadership Podcast with Rob Simpson

CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson chats with Emergent Partner Bill Berthel about exciting new opportunities for our region.

Image
NY Smart I-Corridor Graphic
Media Coverage | 08/17/2023

Syracuse Joins Rochester and Buffalo in Federal Tech Hub Application

The three metro areas of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse submitted a joint application to become a federally-recognized Tech Hub this wee

Image
Alan Rottenberg, Dave Mankiewicz, and Donna Gillespie gather to celebrate Central New York's Career Apprenticeship Initiative.
Media Coverage | 08/10/2023

Career Apprenticeship Initiative Aims To Retain CNY's College-Educated Talent

CenterState CEO; Alan Rottenberg, founder of the Canadian Career Apprenticeship Initiative; the Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Image
CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson being interviewed at The Tech Garden Expansion Kickoff.
Media Coverage | 08/10/2023

The Tech Garden Expansion Project Officially Gets Underway

CenterState CEO, local leaders and supporters gathered to announced the onset of construction for the transformational expansion of its b

Image
Syracuse Surge Accelerator finalists announced
Media Coverage | 08/08/2023

Syracuse Surge Accelerator Announces Five Finalists

CenterState CEO announced the five companies selected to participate in the first year of the new and innovative Syracuse Surge A

Image
Media Coverage | 07/27/2023

Syracuse Alumni Turn College Town into Hometown

Graduates of Syracuse University speak to the success they’ve found in Central New York.

Image
Kara Interview GENIUS NY 2023
Media Coverage | 07/13/2023

Kara Jones Talks GENIUS NY with NewsChannel 9's Jeff Kulikowsky

Learn all about the program and what to expect with this year's Cohort.

Image
Surge Accelerator 2023 Semifinalists
Media Coverage | 07/13/2023

Syracuse Surge Accelerator Announces 10 Semi-finalists for First Cohort

The Syracuse Surge Accelerator is a one-year in-person accelerator to provide direct resources and support for Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs.