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

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. 

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.