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Tompkins workforce development briefs committee on federal funding outlook, Center of Government move, branding and youth employment pilot
Summary
Tompkins workforce development briefed the committee on federal funding prospects, the planned move to a new Center of Government, a board-led branding review and a state-funded youth employment pilot limited by grant eligibility to City and Town of Ithaca residents.
Tompkins County workforce development staff on April 2 gave an update covering federal funding, building plans, branding and youth employment programming.
Chris Spahn, director for Tompkins workforce development, said workforce legislation (WIOA) and the new Department of Labor secretary have signaled continued interest in funding training and workforce programs, and that the local workforce association and national partners are actively advocating in Washington. Spahn told the committee the Biden administration's DOL leadership and congressional committee chairs have expressed support for continued workforce funding, which local staff are monitoring.
Spahn also briefed the committee on the department's planned move to the county's new Center of Government, expected to open in 2029. He said staff are pushing for first-floor space because of visibility and access for participants, noting the career center's clients include people with disabilities, youth as young as 14, and countywide residents who may face transport or parking challenges. "I advocated to be on the First Floor of the Center Of Government," Spahn said.
On internal organization and identity, Spahn described a board-level review of agency branding. The department currently uses a statewide "Workforce New York" motif for some materials and a separate local workforce-development-board logo for others; staff told the committee they intend to coordinate a single, more identifiable local brand, subject to board approval and community input.
Spahn summarized youth programming funded through the state's GIVE initiative, a short-term youth employment program launched this year that is limited by the grant's eligibility rules to residents of the City and Town of Ithaca. He said the program is active this season and currently has 23 youth placed with employers including local nonprofits and community organizations; he encouraged the committee to pursue other grants and county support to expand youth employment countywide. "Currently we have 23 youth who are, in the in the program," Spahn said.
Committee members asked whether the grant restriction could be changed; staff said the restriction came from the state grant conditions but they were exploring flexibility for individual participants on a case-by-case basis and encouraged county support for additional funding and program slots.
Spahn also reported internal staffing changes: the department created two deputy director roles (one for operations and one to oversee the board side) and recently filled a youth position the legislature approved in the prior budget cycle; staff said the department is now near full staffing and turning attention to mission, vision and consistent external language.
No formal action was taken. Committee members offered to support outreach for additional youth funding and encouraged coordination on space planning for the Center of Government move.
