The Cornell Chronicle, October 23, 2008, Thursday

The Cornell Chronicle

October 23, 2008, Thursday

The Cornell Chronicle

Maralyn Edid recognized for her 'innovative solutions to community issues'

Maralyn Edid, senior extension associate for workforce, industry and economic development in Cornell's ILR School, has been selected for the 2008 David J. Allee and Paul R. Eberts Community and Economic Vitality Award from Cornell's Community and Rural Development Institute. The award recognizes colleagues working on Cornell programs who develop innovative solutions to community issues.

Edid is being honored for her work with the Onondaga County Office of Economic Development in examining whether the growing immigrant/refugee population in Syracuse satisfies local employers' demand for labor.

From her research, Edid wrote the report, "Bridging the Gap: Training Needs Assessment of the Immigrant Workforce in Onondaga County, N.Y.," which identified language, transportation and child care as the primary barriers to immigrant employment in the area, supplementing her interview findings with national, state and local data.

The report resulted in the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce securing a $500,000 New York State Department of Labor grant for a contextual English as a Second Language pilot program offered by six local employers and directed by the chamber. In addition, the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) has committed to work toward the establishment of a child-care center requested by a cluster of manufacturing and commercial businesses, which will encourage the development of additional centers. The OCIDA also has awarded the ILR School $22,000 to continue research on the transportation needs of entry-level workers traveling to suburban-based employers.

Edid has been associated with the Extension Division of the ILR School since 1990.