$4 million award will support Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Facility at Jefferson Community College
$600,000 Award to Advocate Drum will support Next Move NY Live, Love, Stay Program
Empire State Development today announced $4 million to support the Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Facility at Jefferson Community College (JCC). The new facility will enhance offerings at the college and further develop the workforce pipeline for transitioning Fort Drum soldiers and spouses. A grant of $600,000 was also awarded to Advocate Drum, the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, for development of the Next Move NY Live, Love, Stay Program. These two awards are part of the $10 million Next Move NY Initiative developed by the North Country Regional Economic Development Council and announced by Governor Hochul in December 2023.
“ESD and the North Country REDC are working hard to build a workforce pipeline for transitioning Fort Drum soldiers to New York’s job market, said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “These awards to JCC’s Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Facility and Advocate Drum’s Next Move NY Live, Love, Stay Program will help keep veterans in New York State, fuel economic growth and open new opportunities in the region.”
JCC’s $13 million Next Move NY Vocational Training and Job Readiness Facility will establish a training hub for the Next Move New York initiative to support transitioning soldiers and spouses from Fort Drum into local employment. As the closest academic institution to Fort Drum, JCC is well-positioned to offer new, high-demand programming in engineering technology, mechatronics, advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades. The college will renovate and outfit the Dulles Campus Building to accommodate such programming. The investment aims for an anticipated 13% increase in JCC enrollment overall, 45% increase in Veteran and Active-Duty Enrollment and a 15% increase enrollment for soldiers/spouses transitioning from Fort Drum. The renovated facility and investment will also enable JCC to develop educational programs in critical workforce and trade skills areas, addressing the needs of regional employers, while supporting transitioning military members and their families.
Read the full article on the ESD website.