Nonprofits pitch workforce, housing and transportation projects at IURA public hearing

A public hearing before the Ithaca IURA on March 26 drew a slate of nonprofit presentations seeking IURA support for workforce training, material‑assistance and transportation projects.

Craig Bile, a long-term tenant of the Henry Saint John Building, opened public comment by urging the board not to subdivide existing three‑bedroom units into smaller units, warning that doing so would reduce housing diversity and could degrade livability. "Removing these units reduces housing diversity and eliminates an option that is already in short supply," Bile said.

Finger Lakes Reuse sought support for two workforce‑oriented efforts. Diane Cohen, CEO, described expansion to a new Cayuga reuse center (roughly 18,000 sq. ft.) and a roof-and-parking update at the Ithaca reuse center supported by an Assembly member grant. Karen Castleman requested support for the RESET program to train 15 adults and place 10 in permanent jobs, noting merchandise sales cover about "70% of reset trainees' wages and fringe" while CDBG would support the remaining ~30% and that the program currently has a wait list of about 20 people. Participant Asia Chancellor testified about earning CompTIA A+ certification through the program and returning to teach and refurbish devices.

Lonnie Jenkins (HTTP) described the Hospitality Employment Training Program and answered detailed questions about stipends and milestone-based eligibility. Jenkins said stipends and internships are structured around participation and milestone hours and that some partner contracts already secure portions of the program’s wages; a stipend/internship line item of $11,000 was discussed during Q&A.

Transportation-focused presenters outlined complementary proposals. Laura Vineyard of the Center for Community Transportation (Ithaca Bike Share) requested grant funding to buy 12 e-bikes and 8 UL‑certified batteries to augment a 200+ e-bike fleet; she cited per-bike pricing of $3,000 and $500 per battery and noted that easy‑access members (income‑qualified) take about 25% of daily trips. Board members probed fleet uptime metrics, sourcing (Drive Mobility) and the project budget line ($80,625 was referenced as a portion of the program budget).

Bike Walk Tompkins (Swamp City) proposed pop-up bike repair clinics at partner sites that serve people with transportation barriers; presenters said the program would distribute helmets, lights and locks, and that a recent $40,000 grant from Assembly member Anna Kellis helped support their work.

Service in Unity and the Human Services Coalition (2-1-1) sought funds linked to workforce and navigation services. Service in Unity’s presenter emphasized an employer-of-record model for people in recovery and an average wage around $22 an hour, while 2-1-1 representatives described nearly 50,000 contacts over recent years and asked for support to sustain staff capacity to provide referrals and reduce wait times.

Cornell Cooperative Extension proposed a three‑pillar program to educate tenants and landlords about housing quality, integrate direct-referral pathways into existing energy and social-care navigation programs, and convene local stakeholders to identify remediation pathways for hazards such as mold, lead and drafts.

Board members repeatedly asked presenters how projects would scale if partially funded and pressed for clarified line items, including how stipend, wage and overhead lines are secured and how partner contracts contribute revenue. Staff and presenters provided specifics when available — for example, Finger Lakes Reuse reported a Remap program metric of 1,036 households served in 2025 with $168,000 of price‑value distributed and 251 free deliveries — and said reduced awards would shrink participant counts or geographic coverage rather than eliminate core services.

The meeting moved from the public hearing into deliberations and a formal board action related to HUD entitlement funds later in the agenda.