Framed by the former American Axle plant at 1001 East Delavan Ave., which will become the new education building for Catholic Charities, project manager Tess M. Williams looks over plans with Jeffrey Conrad, Catholic Charities director of workforce and education service, for the new facility. (Dan Cappellazzo/Staff Photographer)

Catholic Charities' Workforce and Education Services will have a new, more accessible site on the East Side of Buffalo this summer. The new location will be 1001 E. Delavan Ave., site of the former American Axle plant and will replace the current Kerns Avenue site. The Kerns Avenue site is expected to be closed June 25-29 to complete the move.  

The complex was purchased in January 2015 by Ontario Specialty Contracting LLC when CEO Jon M. Williams had a vision for some type of vocational school in the front of the space.

The facility will feature two classrooms where students will receive remedial math and literacy preparation to earn their high school equivalency, 14 offices for staff, as well as a conference room and kitchenette.

"Catholic Charities' move to East Delavan is further proof of our commitment to Buffalo's East Side," said Jeffrey Conrad, director of Catholic Charities workforce and education services. "State-of-the-art classrooms will provide both educational and vocational services to those looking to obtain an education and build a career. I am excited for our students and our staff, and most importantly, for the neighborhood."

The site offers close proximity to easily accessible transportation along the East Delavan, Bailey Avenue and Genesee Street thoroughfares.

With more than 40 years of experience in workforce and education services, Catholic Charities provides outreach, recruiting, career coaching and wrap-around case management for students aged 16 and up. The Workforce and Education Services department targets those who have dropped out of high school and are in need of attaining their HSE, are unemployed or underemployed, or need a connection to obtaining or improving employment.

In addition to the Bailey and Kerns Avenue locations, classes are currently offered in Erie County at Catholic Charities' offices at 525 Washington St., Buffalo; 75 Caldwell Place, Lackawanna and the Seneca Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., Buffalo.

In Niagara County, classes are offered at Catholic Charities' offices at 1465 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda; the Doris W. Jones Family Resource Building Universal 3001 nineth St. Niagara Falls and at 450 Bewley Building, Market and Main in Lockport.

Additionally, Catholic Charities is one of four local partners in the non-profit Economic Development Group which includes: Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance; Goodwill Industries of Western New York and Buffalo Urban League. The EDG was selected to operate and administer the Northland Workforce Training Center.

Services are temporarily being provided at 1581 Bailey Ave. and will be moving to the Northland WTC site when it opens this summer. Northland WTC will be a one-stop educational facility serving some of the most underrepresented populations in the region's workforce and preparing them with such needed education as high school equivalency and then training them in advanced manufacturing.

Catholic Charities also was chosen to administer the Niagara Falls Empire State Poverty Initiative program. The goal of ESPRI is to create a pipeline of social, educational and training services that will empower residents of the City of Niagara Falls to progress from situations of poverty and unemployment to stable, sustainable and career-centered employment. Partners include the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope. To learn more about the program and eligibility, call 282-2351, ext. 2651.

For more information about Catholic Charities' Workforce and Education Services, please call (716) 893-3500 (Erie Co. residents), (716) 694-7749 (Niagara Co. residents) or visit: www.ccwny.org/workforce