NGI announced the “first of its kind” partnership in a press release on Monday. Under the new agreements, NYSID member agencies will staff cleaning and mail processing services at NGI’s headquarters in Schenectady and Buffalo. Cleaning services will be provided on-site and mail processing services will be provided at the Disability Services Center’s mail processing consolidation site in Albany. These agreements will initially create approximately 20 jobs, providing disabled employees with the opportunity to work in an integrated environment and earn competitive wages, according to the press release.
Mike Miller, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Northeast Shared Services (NSS), NGI’s shared services group, said NGI’s new partnership with NYSID aligns with the company’s mission.
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“Our company has long been committed to sustaining the communities we call home, both literally and figuratively,” Miller said in a statement. “At the heart of this is opening doors so everyone can access career paths that increase their independence and foster their personal and professional growth. We’re proud to partner with NYSID and take even bolder action to support people who bring unique and diverse skillsets and perspectives.”
Yvonne Clark Rogers, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and talent at NSS, said the partnership is a way to put NGI’s company values into practice.
“This partnership marks a monumental milestone on the journey to equitable and accessible employment in our communities, a commitment both companies made years ago,” Rogers said in a statement. “Being neighbors to families across the vast geographic area in which we operate means we have a vested interest in the fulfillment of so many people’s lives and in an environment in which they are represented and valued.”
Maureen O’Brien, President and CEO of NYSID, expressed excitement about the partnership with NGI.
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“We are pleased to partner with an organization that prioritizes employment for people with disabilities. This initiative is both a ‘social good’ and helps significantly boost our economy by providing competitive wages and meaningful work,” O’Brien said in a statement. “The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 67 percent, but NYSID and NGI are working hard to improve this number to create stronger communities in New York State.”
According to a press release, NGI provides hiring and training opportunities to recruit, retain and advance employees with disabilities at approximately 300 retail stores across the Northeast. Price Chopper/Market 32’s Hiring Advantage Program offers hands-on, on-the-job experience in a variety of roles within the company, and Tops has multiple partnerships with local schools and support providers to develop an employment pipeline for people with disabilities. The companies also work closely with state agencies and community organizations that prioritize employment opportunities for people with disabilities, the statement said.
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“We strive to be an example of good corporate citizenship in the retail grocery industry and beyond,” Miller said in a statement. “Over the years, we’ve seen the incredible impact our career development programs have had on the lives of individuals with disabilities and the countless ways their talent and dedication have positively changed the trajectory of our company. We can’t think of a better way to reward their contributions than by working with NYSID to create even more opportunities for growth and advancement.”
NGI and NYSID are already looking to expand their partnership with a new program in which NYSID member agencies operating custom apparel businesses will become the exclusive providers of employee-facing e-commerce stores for all NGI-branded apparel, with individuals on the autism spectrum creating the branded merchandise and fulfilling orders in an integrated work environment with competitive wages.
State lawmakers also praised the partnership.
“Providing opportunities for people with disabilities is critical to building a fair and inclusive society,” Rep. Angelo Santabarbara, a Democrat from Rotterdam, said in a statement. “As a father of a son with autism, this goal is very personal to me. Research shows that having a job helps people with disabilities gain independence. NGI’s partnership with NYSID is a great example of how we can make the workforce more inclusive, and I am committed to expanding these opportunities to make a difference.”
“All working-age New Yorkers deserve the opportunity to pursue the careers and occupations of their choice, and each of us must do our part to open doors and reduce barriers to disability employment,” Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, D-Cohoes, said in a statement. “This is one of many reasons I’m proud the state has selected NYSID as a preferred supplier of products and services. But we can’t do it alone. I applaud NGI, one of New York’s largest employers, for taking this bold step and taking these principles into the private sector. These jobs help increase the independence and autonomy of some of our community’s most vulnerable members, and are key to their health and well-being.”
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