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Ulster County workforce office outlines youth programs, WIOA funding and training partnerships
Summary
Sharon Williams, director of the Ulster County Office of Employment and Training, told legislators the office is federally funded under WIOA, will run summer and year‑round youth employment programs (about 117 placements planned), and partners with training providers including a lineman institute that graduates higher‑paying workers.
Sharon Williams, director of the Ulster County Office of Employment and Training, presented the county’s workforce programs and funding picture at the June 17 Ulster County Legislature meeting.
Williams said the office is guided primarily by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and that the program year runs from July 1 to July 30 (as stated in her presentation). She told legislators the office recently received notice of obligation for federal funds and expects to be able to serve residents for the coming program year. "We are 100% federally funded through WEOA," Williams said, noting a small county contribution to the Brighter Futures at‑risk youth initiative.
Nut graph — why it matters: County workforce offices distribute federal training and employment supports that tie directly to local economic development and to proposals under discussion — for example, job opportunities that could accompany waste‑diversion and reuse investments. Williams urged legislators to help spread the word to constituents and listed services including job search assistance, resume preparation, interview coaching and civil‑service test prep.
Program details Williams gave to the body included adult, dislocated‑worker and youth program categories (with youth split into in‑school and out‑of‑school tracks). She said last year’s summer youth employment served about 130 participants and that the county expects to serve roughly 117 this year at a livable wage of $17.70 an hour. Brighter Futures, the county’s at‑risk youth case‑management program, served more than 35 young people in 2024–25. Williams highlighted training pathways to in‑demand work — certified nursing assistants, CDLs, surgical techs, HVAC and solar installation — and singled out a lineman training partnership, saying many graduates reach six‑figure wages within a year of completion.
Funding and oversight: Williams said fiscal oversight and reporting come through the New York State Department of Labor, and the office uses statewide audits and databases to update local workforce data. She also invited legislators to request the presentation slides and suggested staff can bring training services into constituent communities.
What’s next: Williams said deputy clerk Mer will distribute her slides and asked legislators to help publicize programs. Legislators in the meeting later referenced workforce training when discussing green‑job opportunities tied to waste diversion and reuse initiatives.
Quotes in context: "We're trying really hard to figure out what are those ways to encourage residents to know of the services that we provide," Williams said, asking legislators to help publicize the office’s services to reach more residents.
The presentation provided lawmakers with a near‑term snapshot of training capacity the county can draw on should it pursue diversion and reuse investments.
