Temporary restraining order halts closure of Delaware Valley Job Corps; county staff outline student and worker supports

A court has temporarily blocked the planned closure of the Delaware Valley Job Corps campus, county workforce staff told the Sullivan County Legislature, giving officials more time to coordinate help for students and employees affected by the uncertainty.

Laura, a county workforce staff member, said, "The court ordered a temporary restraining order on the closure of Job Corps. ... It's temporary." She told lawmakers the campus has 77 students and 101 workers and that "about 65% of the workers are Sullivan County residents; the other 35% are Pennsylvania residents." County staff said they are coordinating with workforce counterparts in Orange County and New York City to support students who must transition home and workers who will need placements or assistance.

The temporary order matters because some students are already in precarious housing situations, Laura said: "They have about students have already, been lehi students left that are homeless or are in a position where they cannot go back home." Staff said those students will be connected with services in nearby jurisdictions.

County workforce staff also highlighted several ongoing and planned programs and labor-market indicators:

- An electrical training program graduation is scheduled for June 10 at BOCES' Reuben Pollock Building; 14 of 15 students are slated to graduate and four already have jobs, staff said. - A certified nurse assistant (CNA) course is planned to run Sept. 8 through Nov. 24 as an evening class (5:30 p.m.–9 p.m.) in partnership with SUNY Sullivan. - The summer youth employment program received 110 applications for roughly 50 slots; confirmed worksites include Bold Gold Media, WJFF, Federation for the Homeless, Catholic Charities food pantry, HPAC, United Way, Monticello Central School, Woodridge Housing, SUNY Sullivan's Liberty Partnership, and Literacy Volunteers. - The county received a notice of award of about $100,000 from the New York State Office of Mental Health for a local program, according to staff.

Laura also reported county labor-market figures for April: total nonfarm jobs rose about 2.3% year-over-year, private-sector employment rose about 2.9%, and the unemployment rate was 2.9%, down from 3.4% in April 2024. Sectors showing the biggest gains included private education and health services, manufacturing, and trade/transportation/utilities; leisure and hospitality and professional/business services showed minor losses. In the Hudson Valley region, Sullivan County's private employment posted the largest year-over-year gain at 2.9%, staff said.

Laura told the legislature there were three resolutions listed for the meeting; she said the first, a lease agreement with the New York State Department of Labor, was being pulled from the agenda. The other two resolutions she listed were for acceptance of incentive awards on the order of $50,000 and $50,003.33, respectively.

The temporary restraining order leaves the longer-term status of the Job Corps campus unresolved. County staff said they will continue coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and workforce partners while awaiting the final court outcome.