Businesses that hire long-term unemployed New Yorkers might be eligible for some of $500,000 in job training grants still available.

In the North Country Region, 44 businesses have already hired 118 workers under the program, according to the announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

This funding is available through the On-the-Job Training (OJT) National Emergency Grant (NEG). This effort is part of a campaign to help individuals who have been out of work for 26 weeks or longer connect to available jobs in their region. To date, more than 660 businesses have been awarded nearly $9 million to train workers across the state. Businesses received an average of nearly $7,000 per hire, with more than 1,300 workers hired through the grant funding.

“Lowering the cost that businesses pay to train employees can have a big impact on reducing unemployment rates and spurring economic growth throughout the state,” Gov. Cuomo said. “These grants help businesses grow their workforce and ensure New Yorkers have the opportunity to find well paying, long-term, stable jobs. I encourage employers in every region to learn more about the training dollars available.”

For more information, employers should e-mail: OJT-NEG@labor.ny.gov.

Job seekers should contact their nearest New York State Career Center, which can be located here: http://labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/osview.asp.