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For Immediate Release:
10/24/19

Contact:
Steven Gosset | Steven.Gosset@nypa.gov
Media Relations | (914) 390-8192


HOW TO BOOST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN NEW YORK TO BE EXAMINED AT QUEENSBURY FORUM


SUNY Adirondack Session is Latest in SUNY/Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum Series Canal Corporation and Other State Jobs Available

ALBANY—How to equip New York State’s workforce to succeed in the 21st century economy and ensure employers have an adequate talent pipeline to fill job openings will be the subject of the next SUNY/Erie Canal Bicentennial Forum, to be held Oct. 30 at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury.

The forum, sponsored by the New York State Canal Corporation, State University of New York and Department of State, will hold sessions that will focus on current trends in workforce development throughout New York as well as on the state Canal System, which is seeking to diversify its workforce.

“Our canal workforce is exceptionally dedicated and skilled, yet as more retirements loom, we need to make sure qualified applicants from all walks of life know that a career on the canals is possible and desirable,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director.

The panels will be moderated by New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, who spearheads Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s employment programs, including a $175 million workforce development initiative announced in May.

“There are wonderful career opportunities associated with New York’s canals, and events like todays are a great way to increase people’s awareness and have a larger discussion about creative approaches to workforce development,” Commissioner Reardon said. “Thank you to the Canal Corporation for having the vision to bring this event together to benefit New York’s workforce.”

The Governor’s initiative provides funding to support efforts to support short-term workforce needs and improve talent pipelines, expands apprenticeships and addresses the long-term needs of growing industries, such as advanced manufacturing, health care and clean energy, a fast-growing sector. where the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has committed $70 million to clean energy workforce development. In addition, Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils have awarded more than $6.1 billion to more than 7,300 job creation and community development projects.

The state’s community colleges, such as SUNY Adirondack, have played a prominent role in such efforts, with a wide range of degree and certificate programs that often cater to residents training for careers in new fields and veterans seeking a meaningful re-entry into the civilian workforce.

"SUNY Adirondack is proud to host this important discussion about the workforce of today and tomorrow,” said Kristine Duffy, SUNY Adirondack president. “The college has dedicated nearly 60 years to educating this community to provide the workers needed for a variety of industries. Our degrees, certificates and shorter-term training programs are all intended to meet the needs of our region. We look forward to continuing this work and thank the governor and Commissioner Reardon for their leadership and support."

The forums have been held since 2017, to coincide with the ongoing celebration of the Erie Canal bicentennial and the links the state’s canals have to various initiatives. Previous forums have covered such topics as economic development, craft brewing, downtown revitalization and the Empire State Trail.

Admission to the forum is free. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunyerie-canal-bicentennial-forum-workforce-development-tickets-72103203623

To learn about job openings at the Canal Corporation, go to http://www.canals.ny.gov/about/jobs/index.html. To learn about job openings at the New York Power Authority, the Canal Corporation’s parent agency, go to https://www.nypa.gov/careers.


About the New York State Canal Corporation

New York’s canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. In 2019, New York will mark the 200th anniversary of the first trip taken on the Erie Canal, from Rome to Utica.

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