New York is providing $16 million to cities across the state as part of a push to reduce gun violence, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office announced Wednesday.

The money will go to 20 cities to be used for workforce training and job placement programs. In early July, Cuomo declared a gun violence disaster emergency and said the state would approach gun violence as a public health crisis.

The governor’s office said the Department of Labor will work with local workforce development boards to connect at-risk youth to jobs. The state estimates the funding will help 3,200 people across the state.

The money will be dispersed to upstate cities as follows:

  • Albany: $950,000
  • Binghamton: $750,000
  • Buffalo: $2,650,000
  • Jamestown: $225,000
  • Kingston: $300,000
  • Middletown: $325,000
  • Newburgh: $600,000
  • Niagara Falls: $250,000
  • Poughkeepsie: $350,000
  • Rochester: $2,250,000
  • Schenectady: $300,000
  • Syracuse: $750,000
  • Troy: $700,000
  • Utica: $600,000

"Gun violence is a public health crisis, in New York State and across the country, and we're attacking it with the same comprehensive, evidence-based approach we used to beat COVID. We know that simply telling kids to put the gun down doesn't work—we have to give them an alternative," Cuomo said in a statement. "This new funding, for job training and stable, good-paying career placement opportunities for our most vulnerable young people across New York State, does just that. It's an investment in our economy, in our recovery, and in our security. And it's a beacon of hope for a generation that too often feels bereft of it." 

The governor’s office also announced 501 jobs available for at-risk youth in the Capital Region. This comes after a meeting between state and local officials to discuss gun violence. The jobs are for people living in 13 Capital Region zip codes. Those zip codes are 12202, 12204, 12206, 12207, 12209, 12210, 12180, 12182, 12303, 12304, 12307, 12308 and 12309.

State funds will be used to create 111 summer jobs for anyone between 15 and 24 years old. An additional 390 jobs will be available for anyone between the ages of 18 and 24.