Steven Knapp, director of Employment & Training, gave the Legislature a quarterly update on workforce programs, youth employment initiatives and job‑fair activity, and flagged federal funding uncertainty that could affect the department.

Knapp said the county’s summer youth allocation was about “960 some odd thousand dollars” and that the department hopes to serve 350–400 youth this season; last year the program served a record 420 participants. He described a year‑round youth employment program that recently had 270 participants and concluded May 30, and said the program serves economically disadvantaged youth aged 14 to 20, primarily in Middletown, Newburgh and Port Jervis.

“We got over 450 applicants so far,” Knapp said of current recruitment for the summer slots, while noting not all applicants complete required paperwork such as working cards or Social Security documentation. He credited Karina Fabiano, who runs the youth program, for strong employer recruitment and placement follow‑through: “She is very persuasive, passionate about the program,” he said, and many participants are subsequently hired by employers.

Knapp described successful recent job fairs: a May 17 event at the Middletown Galleria with 104 employers and more than 500 job seekers, and a large October fair planned at the Newburgh Mall. He added the department can rapidly organize targeted fairs if a major local employer announces layoffs, citing events that followed prior closures and recorded high attendance.

Knapp also raised funding uncertainty stemming from a House bill that would consolidate workforce funding into state block grants, and said the county association expects funding could be cut. “As of now, we are funded through September,” he said, and noted some funding is forward‑funded from the prior year. He said Orange County was projected to see an increase under past formulas but that the final federal outcome was unclear and might yield cuts to some counties.

No formal votes or policy changes were proposed during the update. Knapp responded to several questions from legislators about enrollment numbers and program locations and offered to provide a list of participating municipalities after the meeting.