NEW YORK CITY(TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Amy Peterson as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. The office is responsible for equipping New Yorkers with a variety of skills and connecting them to quality jobs across the city. Peterson will continue to lead the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery and Build it Back as the office and program enter the final stages of their Sandy recovery efforts.

“When I was elected, the Build it Back program suffered from bureaucratic entanglement, and thousands of New Yorkers were left to fend for themselves. Then Amy Peterson took over, streamlined the program and people finally began getting the help they needed to recover,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Amy has nearly worked herself out of a job, and she managed to do this while training and connecting over 1,600 New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy to quality jobs. I’m confident Amy will continue this great work at the Office of Workforce Development and connect countless more New Yorkers to high quality jobs, taking us a step closer to creating the fairest big city in America.”

“The Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development will create opportunities for all New Yorkers to build and benefit from our economy,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phillip Thompson. “Amy Peterson has a track-record of delivering results by engaging communities, which I know will be key to our success moving forward.”

“Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to creating the fairest big city in America has resulted in remarkable progress over the last four years. His initiatives, stemming from Career Pathways to the numerous initiatives launched across City agencies, have taken us steps closer to building a more inclusive economy that works for all. I’m excited by the challenge that lies ahead and look forward to working with Deputy Mayor Thompson to build on these efforts and to continue helping New Yorkers find a pathway to the middle class,” said Amy Peterson, Director of the Mayor’s Office Housing Recovery and the Office of Workforce Development.

Amy Peterson will lead the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development and build on the work of the last four years to fully align the City’s work in advancing opportunities for New Yorkers. Some of her priorities include bringing together the many workforce initiatives across City agencies; establishing new initiatives that will provide good jobs for New Yorkers and setting ambitious goals focused on training and employment. Peterson also will engage with communities directly to build initiatives across neighborhoods linking community based-organizations, City agencies and local businesses in efforts to expand opportunities across the City. She will continue to lead the Office of Housing Recovery as it completes the Build It Back program and focus on priorities for recovery preparedness for the future.

To date, 95 percent of 8,300 homeowners affected by Hurricane Sandy are back in their homes, received reimbursement or have sold their homes to the City. 99 percent of City managed construction projects are complete. The City currently is working to complete the final most complicated elevations and rebuilds in Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay Courts and Queens.

Under Peterson, over 1,600 New Yorkers were connected to high quality jobs through the Build it Back and Sandy Recovery Workforce1 programs. These jobs include union construction careers as roofers, plumbers, electricians and carpenters. Peterson also created the Sandy Recovery Hiring Plan which focused on training and connecting Sandy-impacted residents to construction jobs. Over 20 percent of trades workers in Build It Back were residents affected by Sandy.

“Congratulations go to Amy Peterson on her new position in Mayor de Blasio’s administration. She has been an outstanding administrator of the Build it Back program, working tirelessly to help victims of super storm Sandy get their lives back together. She will do a great job,” said Council Member Alan N. Maisel.

“The Build It Back program was an absolute nightmare when Amy Peterson took over and she turned the program completely around to deliver real results for more than 8,000 homes and provide thousands of New Yorkers with the training to sustain long-term quality employment,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “In her new role as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, I have no doubt she will bring her hard work and expertise to the job to help turn the tide for many more New Yorkers struggling to find a good job.”

About Amy Peterson:

Prior to her time at the Office of Housing Recovery, Amy Peterson managed workforce development programs at the New York City Human Resources Administration where she oversaw the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act, a federal program designed to help job seekers access employment, education and workforce training. She also oversaw the launch of new City contracts which assessed training and employment opportunities for New Yorkers. From 2007 to 2014, Peterson was President of Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), which prepares, trains and places women in careers in the skilled construction, utility and maintenance trades, helping women achieve economic independence and a secure future. Amy Peterson was appointed Director of the Office of Housing Recovery in 2014.