FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 1, 2016

County Executive McCoy Outlines Growth of Youth Program

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy will be hosting a press conference to unveil
the evolution of a youth program that will benefit juveniles who have had a run-in with
the law. The County Executive will be joined by William Connors, Acting Director of the
Albany County Department of Probation and Jeffrey Stark, President of the Greater
Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council to talk about the program.
The press conference will take place on Wednesday, July 6 at 10:30 am at the Labor
Temple at 890 Third Street, Albany.
###
Mary Rozak
Director of Communications
Office of the Albany County Executive
112 State Street, Room 900
Albany, NY 12207
tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218
fax 518.447.5589
mary.rozak@albanycounty.com
www.albanycounty.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

County Executive McCoy Outlines the Evolution of

Project Growth Youth Program
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today announced the development of the
youth program, Project Growth, the juvenile justice program, which provides internship
opportunities to youth who are required to pay restitution for their crimes. The teens
have the opportunity to learn a trade and earn money in order to pay back their
restitution. Project Growth helps to prevent recidivism by providing youth with job skill
training, which they can then use to transition into the workforce. The program also
teaches youth transferrable life skills such as financial literacy, self-care and career and
education planning.
This evolution of the program involves kids not getting a job but getting an introduction
to various trades, earning money and having the ability to pay their restitution, said
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. This program can really help our kids get
back on track and deter them from re-offense. It will help them learn from their mistakes
and guide them in the right direction.
Project Growth is the perfect blend between restorative justice and offender
rehabilitation, said William Connors, the Acting Director of the Albany County
Department of Probation. This program incorporates teaching vocational life skills with
paying restitution to crime victims. There are about 750 to 800 kids involved in the
probation program each year, and I know that some of these kids will be able to benefit
by participating in Project Growth.
Project Growth has partnered with various trade unions where the teens will have the
chance to work and learn different trade skills. The program also involves a classroom
component.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is happy to partner with Albany
County and County Executive McCoy in his effort to help kids get an introduction to
painting, bricklaying and carpentry, said Jeffrey Stark, Business Representative, District
Council No. 9. These kids are at a turning point in their lives and giving them an
opportunity like Project Growth shows them they can learn a skill that may change their
lives, change their outlook and make a difference.
Project Growth was launched in 2013, and is the first program of its kind in New York
State. The program originally provided teens with jobs in order to give them the ability
to pay back restitution. The project partnered with institutions such as Siena College
and the Capital City Rescue Mission. The new Project Growth internship program
started this week at Lawson Lake.
###
Mary Rozak
Director of Communications
Office of the Albany County Executive
112 State Street, Room 900
Albany, NY 12207
tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218
fax 518.447.5589
mary.rozak@albanycountyny.gov
www.albanycounty.com

Daniel P. McCoy
County Executive

County of Albany
Office of the Executive
112 State Street, Room 900
Albany, New York 12207-2021

Philip f. Calderone, esq.

Deputy County Executive

(518) 447-7040 - FAX (518) 447-5589

www.albanycounty.com

June 28, 2016

Ms. Shannon DeFreese
ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc.
176 N. Main Street
Florida, NY 10921
Dear Shannon:
I truly appreciate your support of the Albany County Veterans Service Award
Ceremony on June 9th. Thank you for your generous donation, our event was
a success because of your contributions. The cake looked and tasted
amazing, and you really went above and beyond by providing us with various
types of beverages. The paper plates and utensils were also much needed
contributions.
Id also like to thank you for your kind donation of hot dogs and hamburgers
to feed volunteers working to prep Lawson Lake. Nothing compares to a
good meal after a hard days work.
ShopRite has always been a tremendous supporter of Albany County, our
veterans, and our volunteers. The partnership that ShopRite and Albany
County has forged is tremendous. Thank you again for your unwavering
support and generosity.
Sincerely,

Daniel P. McCoy
Albany County Executive

cc: Tom Urtz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Project Growth Press Conference Program Agenda 7/06

Announcement
Daniel P. McCoy
Albany County Executive
Project Growth Details
William Connors
Acting Director Albany County Department of Probation
Partnership
Jeffrey Stark
President of the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council

Daniel P. McCoy
County Executive

County of Albany
Office of the Executive
112 State Street, Room 900
Albany, New York 12207-2021

Philip f. Calderone, esq.

Deputy County Executive

(518) 447-7040 - FAX (518) 447-5589

www.albanycounty.com

June 28, 2016

Mr. Michael E. Fitzgerald
2258 Hillary Ave.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1H 7J1
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
Thank you for writing to me about your late father. I would like to thank you
for his service to our country as a member of the United States Army.
It is my pleasure to send you an official Albany County pin. As you will see,
the pin is engraved with the official seal of the County of Albany. I know this
pin will be a great addition to your collection.
I wish you luck in your endeavors. If you ever find yourself in Albany County,
please stop by and say hello.
Sincerely,

Daniel P. McCoy

Albany County Executive

PROJECT GROWTH TALKING POINTS 0706

Good morning everyone and thank you for

coming today.
As we all know, children are our future. It is
important that we help our children become
responsible citizens.
Sometimes, they hit a stumbling block and find
themselves in trouble with the law.
We introduced Project Growth three years ago
and it has evolved.
Im here today with our partners to talk about the
growth of this program.
Project Growth not only helps youth who have
had a run-in with the law, but it ensures that
victims will receive the justice they deserve.
Project Growth has been about teaching kids
responsibility and helping them earn money to
pay restitution for their crime.
This evolution of the program involves kids not
getting a job but getting an introduction to
various trades, earning money and having the
ability to pay their restitution.

 This program can really help our kids get back

on track and deter them from re-offense. It will
help them learn from their mistakes and guide
them in the right direction.
And this will happen at Lawson Lake which has
been undergoing tremendous changes.
But before I go into too much detail, Id like to
have Bill Connors, the Acting Director of the
Albany County Department of Probation explain
a little more about the evolution of Project
Growth.
(Bill Speaks)
Thank you Bill.
This program would not be possible without the
partnership with the various trade unions that
will be providing those learning opportunities.
Id now like to welcome Jeff Stark, the Business
Representative for District Council Number 9 of
the International Union of Painters and Allied
Trades to say a few words about the
partnership.
(Jeff Speaks)
Thank you Jeff.

 Project Growth can teach these kids to be good

citizens, and give them skills that will prepare
them for the workforce. It is a great program
that can turn these kids lives around.
Again, thank you all for being here today.
Well take questions now.