Latest news with #NextMoveNY
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Next Move NY office opens in Watertown
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – A new center to help Fort Drum soldiers transition to north country work force has just opened. Next Move NY has opened an office at 124 Franklin Street at Jefferson Community College's center called the NEST. Jefferson Community College gets $4 million grant for training center The Development Authority of the North Country was awarded $3.9 million by Empire State Development to establish the framework for the NMNY initiative and implement several key aspects of the program. Next Move NY is a workforce pipeline for soldiers who are transitioning out of the military, and their spouses. The program is looking to build upon existing systems to support, train, credential and engage transitioning soldiers to stay in the area. This initiative will also help fill gaps in employment in Northern New York. Three full-time professional staff members will operate the office and work with transitioning soldiers, spouses and veterans in an effort to connect them with meaningful employment in NNY. Next Move NY is the North Country Regional Economic Development Council's award-winning workforce development strategy that received a $10 million state Challenge Grant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jefferson Community College gets $4 million grant for training center
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Jefferson Community College is getting a boost to help its drive for a new vocational training center to help soldiers after their military career concludes. Empire State Development announced on Tuesday that JCC will be getting $4 million towards its $13 million Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Center. This facility will help increase offerings at the college for Fort Drum soldiers and spouses transitioning out of the military. Fort Drum museum unveils exhibit showcasing WWII veteran's artwork A second grant of $600,000 also awarded to Advocate Drum, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization for Next Move NY Live, Love, Stay Program that will hopefully encourage people to stay in the north country and seek employment in their post-military careers. ESD and the North Country Regional Economic Development Council are working hard to build a workforce pipeline for transitioning Fort Drum soldiers to New York's job market. These awards to JCC's Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Facility and Advocate Drum's Next Move NY Live, Love, Stay Program will help keep veterans in New York State, fuel economic growth and open new opportunities in the region. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight The vocational center would establish a hub for training and allow Jefferson CC to offer new, high-demand programming in engineering technology, mechatronics, advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades. The renovated facility and investment will also enable JCC to develop educational programs in critical workforce and trade skills areas, addressing the needs of regional employers, while supporting transitioning military members and their families. We are honored to receive this significant support through the Next Move NY initiative,' JCC President Dan Dupee said. 'This investment will allow us to establish a state-of-the-art Job Readiness Facility dedicated to supporting Fort Drum soldiers, veterans, and their families as they transition to civilian life.' Dupee added, 'We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul, the Governor's Office, and the North Country Regional Economic Development Council for this incredible opportunity and for selecting our proposal among so many strong submissions. This facility will not only strengthen our college but also bolster the regional workforce and create new pathways for success in high-demand careers.' According to Empire State Development, the area is facing a severe shortage of workers and tapping into Fort Drum's 15,000 current active-duty service members could help deal with that shortfall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DANC opening downtown office to help soldiers transition out of Fort Drum
Mar. 26—WATERTOWN — Transitioning soldiers, their spouses and veterans soon will have some place to go downtown to get help for staying, living and working in the community after they leave Fort Drum. The Development Authority of the North Country has secured a $3.9 million state grant to open the "Next Move NY" office at 124 Franklin St. in Jefferson Community College's $3-million education and entrepreneurial center, called The NEST. The program also aims to help local businesses recruit and hire transitioning soldiers, their spouses and veterans so they can stay and work in the north country, said Michelle Capone, DANC's director of regional development. "This is big," she said. The collaboration with the college's entrepreneurial, education and workforce development's efforts seems to make the Next Move NY office "well-placed for that location," Capone said. It's the first time that the transitioning soldier efforts will be located in the community. That work is done on-post at Fort Drum through its Transition Assistance Program. The Next Move NY program will be staffed by program administrator Ben Cruz, program manager Eric Lo and a business liaison still to be hired. Cruz and Lo are former Fort Drum soldiers who will also work at Fort Drum's TAP program, besides being housed at the JCC Franklin Street site. The downtown office is expected to open in mid-April. Some technical equipment, a logo and website still need to be developed, Capone said. JCC's Small Business Development Center also has offices in the Franklin Street building and space for local startup businesses. The DANC program will incorporate a job matching portal and help businesses with soldier recruitment and training for employers. "We're looking at rolling more in the next few months," Capone said. Kylee McGrath, CEO of the Watertown Local Development Corp., heard about the program for the first time on Wednesday morning at a breakfast of the Fort Drum Chapter of AUSA. She previously worked at Fort Drum's TAP program, so she realizes that a lot of soldiers want to stay in the area after leaving the military. "I think it's great to keep them here," she said. "It'll be good for the local economy." The state funding is coming through Empire State Development. The Franklin Street office is part of a $10 million Next Move NY initiative to enhance workforce opportunities for transitioning soldiers and their families, Capone said.
