Local Asbestos Business Prepares Works for Midtown Project

By Carlet Cleare

Rochester, NY – A Rochester business is getting the local workforce ready for asbestos removal opportunities on the Midtown project.

Cornerstone Training Institute is giving the local unemployed community a chance to get back on their feet. Cornerstone President Darren Yehl says because of the Midtown Risings aggressive schedule and the depletion of the local workforce, workers get pulled from out of town to do the work.

Yehl says, "My focus is trying to get more people locally trained and certified and on standby in case the project needs more people, which I'm predicting is going to happen pretty quick."

Yehl says he worked on the 2007 demolition project at Kodak Park.

He says with projects that size--like Midtown Rising -- more workers are needed, so training the local workforce is important.

Currently, there are 85 people working on Midtown. According to a city of Rochester spokesperson, over 200 asbestos workers are expected on the Midtown site.

Asbestos removal has begun at Midtown, and demolition is expected to start next summer.