ROME -- Leaders in Oneida County are urging businesses to take part in a program to help those that have been out of work for months.

Its called the, "On the job training," program, funded by the state Labor Department.

The program can pay up to 90 percent of the wages for new hires during a training period.

Last year, $500,000 of "on the job training" contracts were written.

It's helped Central New York companies, like Premier Aviation, in Rome.

area leaders want more local organizations to get on board

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. says,"The message today is there are several employers, great employers, giving employees with this case, a future in the aviation industry that can take advantage of this work with a company like premier, and get on the job training and get paid for it while they're training and a job is at the end."

Premier Aviation, which provides repair and maintenance to aircraft, hired 12 new employees last year, through the program.

It's in the process of hiring 5 more this year.