Committee approves DOL lease extension, SUNY Adirondack career-cafe pilot and regional workforce budget; staff report reentry training success and childcare-sup

Workforce staff presented three action items and a series of operational updates to the Economic Growth & Development Committee.

Lease agreement: The committee approved a short-term lease with the New York State Department of Labor covering 05/01/2025 through 04/30/2026. Staff explained the Department of Labor holds the master lease and the county subleases space for the Warren County Career Center; negotiated rent for the upcoming program year is about $70,617 and the statefunding mechanism covers the majority of the cost. The motion to approve the lease passed by voice vote.

SUNY Adirondack pilot: The committee approved a no-cost pilot agreement for workforce staff to hold on-campus career hours (a "career cafe") at SUNY Adirondack from 11/01/2025 to 08/31/2026. Staff said SUNY provided space and marketing support, and workforce staff will offer counseling and guest speakers on a pilot schedule (initially every other week, moving to one afternoon per week). Staff noted the attached MOU is a draft and a formal intermunicipal agreement will follow if the board approves the resolution.

Regional workforce budget: Supervisors reviewed and approved the Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board budget (WIOA-funded), which runs January through June and has already been approved by Saratoga and Washington counties. Staff cautioned that federal WIOA proposals exist that could change funding or allocation formulas, but no changes are in effect now.

Program updates: Staff said the Bureau of Labor Statistics data were delayed, so the most recent unemployment rate available to the county remains the August figure (3.4%); staff expect a modest seasonal uptick when new data arrive. The career center currently sees an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 jobs listed across sources and is preparing for increased traffic due to SNAP able-bodied work requirements that may add roughly 300 clients locally.

Reentry training and placement: Workforce staff described a pilot reentry training for formerly incarcerated individuals that taught electrical, plumbing and filtration-system construction skills; trainees built five water-filtration units and one participant received an employment offer on the morning of the meeting. Staff said the pilot was funded by a private grant, involved county partners including the sheriff's office, and the county hopes to scale the program.

Child-care subsidy concerns: Staff said a county grant to support opening home-based child-care businesses has slowed because subsidies were cut or are no longer available, affecting both providers and families. The workforce director urged continued work to restore subsidy support to improve workforce participation.

The committee approved the lease, the SUNY pilot and the regional budget and asked staff to keep the board updated as federal rules or local funding conditions change.