Albany County Highlights Partnership with the Capital Region Workforce Development Board

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy and the Albany County Legislature highlighted their ongoing partnership with the Capital Region Workforce Development Board aimed at creating stronger pathways to employment for those who need it the most. This partnership has taken the form of two initiatives that have delivered promising results:

1. Albany County On-the-Job Training / Incumbent Worker Business & Trainee Services
2. 1. This program is perfect for businesses who difficulty filling their skilled labor force needs with qualified, experienced workers, or who want to upgrade their current workforce.
   2. Reimbursement of up to 50% of the trainee's hourly wages is provided to the business to pay for the extraordinary costs of such training because these costs exceed the expenses normally incurred in training individuals normally hired for the position.
   3. As of July 2025, a total of 39 individuals were approved for training among 10 businesses.
   4. We have seen a 100% retention upon training completion.
   5. This represents a cumulative investment of $266,213.20

1. Albany County ReEntry Services
2. 1. This initiative will provide dedicated staff at the Capital Region Workforce Development Board Career Centers to serve as ReEntry Workforce Development Navigators/Case Managers for Albany County individuals transitioning from the Albany County Jail and residents from other facilities.
   2. As of July 2025, a total of 86 ReEntry and Justice-Involved individuals have been served so far
   3. 10 of these individuals were connected to the Albany County Sheriff's Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP).
   4. A hiring event was held in July 2025 at the Albany County Jail and the SHIP Program featuring two businesses and two training providers. 12 individuals at the Albany County Jail and another 14 individuals at the SHIP Center attended the hiring event.
   5. This program is being renewed for another year, with an investment from Albany County of another $137,500 to support this effort.

"These initiatives reflect our commitment to building a workforce that leaves no one behind. By investing in on-the-job training and providing second chances for incarcerated individuals reentering society to reduce recidivism, we are strengthening our economy and our community. I'm proud to partner with the Capital Region Workforce Development Board to open doors of opportunity and help more residents build meaningful careers," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

"Albany County's significant investment in workforce development is continuing to provide dividends for both residents and businesses," said Brian Williams, Executive Director of the Capital Region Workforce Development Board. "From On-the-Job Training programs that help people earn while they learn at our great businesses to youth and reentry populations, these initiatives are creating real, measurable outcomes-higher wages, stronger career pathways, and greater economic mobility. The Capital Region Workforce Development Board is proud to partner with Albany County to ensure that every individual, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to build a sustainable career and that local businesses have the skilled workforce they need to thrive."

"Investing in workforce development drives success and opportunity, serving as a lifeline that breaks cycles of poverty, lowers recidivism, restores stability, and unlocks human potential. Programs that provide career training and assist individuals reentering society after incarceration do more than simply fill job openings; they transform lives and lay the foundation for lasting success and independence. When we invest in good programming and policy, we're investing in people, their potential, and our shared future," said Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham.

The Capital Region Workforce Development Board (CRWDB) is the business-led entity charged by the federal USDOL Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), serving Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady counties whose main focus is to conduct strategic planning, create policy, and provide oversight and accountability for workforce development activities in the Capital Region. The CRWDB is the central hub of the Capital Region Workforce Development One Stop System, which provides a network of dozens of organizations and programs providing employment development and training services to individuals and businesses.

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