“Hospitals are some of the largest purchasers and hirers in the borough, and it’s a shame not to leverage our own communities to meet those needs,” Suchoff said.
The hub will work with Maimonides and One Brooklyn to review current vendor lists and identify where local businesses could fill needs, she said. That includes HVAC services, office supplies, catering and furniture procurement.
The vendor program is in the analysis stages now, and connecting businesses to opportunities hopefully will commence by the end of next year, Suchoff said. The not-for-profit recently received a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in Midtown to expedite the program, she said, adding that conversations with the city and the state government for additional funds are underway.
Workforce development is being carried out with CUNY to provide certification programs, credit-bearing classes and other courses to enable workers to enter the health care industry.
“Our local hospitals found that they did not have an adequate pool of trained professionals in particular areas, such as supply managers or health coaches,” Suchoff said.
Programs will be offered based on the needs of the not-for-profit’s hospital partners, and the courses are expected to be held throughout next year, she said.
In addition to adult education, the hub will design programs for high school and junior high school students that can prepare them for a health care career, she said.
“There are well-paying jobs in this industry, and it’s important to start making those paths available to our communities early on,” she said.
Brooklyn Communities Collaborative was founded last year, and its partners collectively serve about 650,000 Medicaid beneficiaries and more than 80,000 complex-needs patients. It has given out more than $2 million in grants for COVID-19 support since April.
