(September 26, 2006)
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato today joined Economic Development Director Dennis Davin and Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Marc Cherna to celebrate the opening of the Braddock Employment and Training Center (BETC). BETC is an employment and human service resource center for people living in the Mon Valley.

“This is a perfect example of organizations pooling their resources and working together to improve the Mon Valley,” said Onorato. “The Braddock Employment and Training Center offers employment services, workforce training and development, educational daycare, as well as comprehensive human service programming.”

BETC is owned by the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority, managed by Heritage Health Foundation, and offers DHS programming. For more than 30 years, DHS has worked in cooperation with Community College of Allegheny County to provide services to Braddock and the surrounding communities.

“This new facility offers a comfortable and welcoming setting for people who receive the important services DHS offers,” said Cherna. “It is an asset to the Braddock community and for those who will use it.”

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) provided $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the renovation of the two-story brick building, creating 17,000 square-feet of office and classroom space.

“Through this collaboration, we were able to not only save a building through intensive restoration,” said Davin. “The Braddock Employment and Training Center will also act as a spark to further the economic revitalization of the Braddock Avenue corridor.”

Renovations to the building were completed in January 2006. BETC is expected to serve more than 2,000 clients in this fiscal year.