Community Renewal Good Stories - Syracuse

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Nojaim Brothers Market Helps Local Youth Learn Job Skills

Syracuse, New York, EZ

Having started with 10 neighborhood youth, this private-sector job-training program now operates year-round and serves 28 young people in the Syracuse, New York, EZ. Utilizing Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTCs), Nojaim Brothers Market has created a youth workforce development program that exemplifies how companies can use EZ tax credits as real dollars to fund job-training initiatives.

For 85 years the Nojaim Brothers Market has been located in the same neighborhood, one ranked among the poorest in the city's 1990 census. When Paul Nojaim-the third generation to lead the market-took over the family business he was intent on continuing his family's commitment to community. As he looked around, Nojaim was struck by the number of young people in his community being lost to violence and hopelessness.

Upon learning of the neighborhood's designation as a New York State Empire Zone (specially designated areas throughout the State that offer special incentives to encourage economic and community development) and a Federal EZ, Nojaim realized that the tax benefits from the EZ program could create a pool of funds to support a training program for the market's young employees. "We wouldn't have had a program without the Empowerment Zone tax benefits," he said. Nojaim calculated the amount of wage and WOTC credits available and then rolled the funds back into the business to finance the training program.

The training program includes life skills, community service, and job preparedness. Young people in the program develop interpersonal communication skills and learn personal responsibility. They are held accountable for being on time and for performing specific job duties to the best of their ability. Money management and profitability- key to success in the business world-are stressed.

Seeking to enhance the youth job-training experience, Nojaim Brothers Market invited a local media company, Clear Channel Entertainment, to introduce program participants to careers in the entertainment industry. The youth take career field trips and learn about careers in the music and advertising industries and they meet with DJs and recording artists. When Clear Channel sponsors events, the young people are invited to attend. They learn, however, that nothing is free. They might, for example, be asked to help set up and break down stages, hang banners, stuff envelopes, or clean up after events. These activities reinforce what they learn in the program.

For more information on the programs of the Syracuse EZ, contact EZ Director Kurt Roulston at (315) 448-8062.