Columbia Greene NY Workforce: Newsletter 3, July

If you have questions regarding any of this information or you are interested in any of the state grant opportunities, please call (518) 828-4181 ext. 5510 or email me.

Topics: Training Opportunities :: Workshops/Networking Opportunities :: Awards/Events

Summer 2004

Notary Public Workshop: Prepare to pass the NYS License Exam

Microsoft Excel 2000: Intermediate Level, July 26th, 9:00am-4:00pm

Microsoft Access 2000: Beginning Level, August 2nd, 9:00am-4:00pm

Microsoft Access 2000: Intermediate Level, August 9th, 9:00am-4:00pm

Classes begin in July, call 828-4181 Ext. 3342 today for detailed information and to register.

Tuesday, July 20th, 8:30 - 10:00am
Place: Chamber of Commerce Office
507 Warren Street, Hudson
Call the Chamber for further information 828-4417

This fall Columbia Greene Community College will offer a workshop series for supervisory skills training. The program will be offered during the day in the morning. Call Bob Bodratti, Director of Community Services, 828-4181 ext. 3345 for further information.

Let Workforce New York help you develop your employees soft skills to encourage on the job success and employee retention! This program has been developed by business, for business. Participating employers state that the Employee Enhancement Program is making a difference in their workers! Call to find out how you can benefit, 518-828-4181 ext. 5510!

Workshop modules include the following topics:

Having it All-Managing Your Job & Life

Employee Strategies for Creating On-the-Job Success

Communication at Work; Pulling Together-Being Part of Your Work Team

Business is a Service Thing- Excellent Customer Service for both Internal & External Customers

The next session will be held September 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th.
Please note that for new employees (not in seasonal positions) who are on the job less than four months there is grant funding that can cover the cost for the entire four-module program. The employee must be earning less than $15.00/hr. and the employer must complete a post-evaluation of their employee's skill gain.
For other employees there is a $50.00 fee per module or $175.00 for the series plus a one time book fee of $10.00.

Act Now! We only have three business strategic planning grants still available. These grants are targeted to for profit businesses that are interested in the services of a consultant from either MDI or the Center for Economic Growth to complete or update their business plan. Companies must fall into either the "Professional, Scientific & Technical", or "Leisure & Hospitality: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation" industry sectors. There is no fee for this service!!

BUSINYS is an effort to support business with the development of their workforce by providing funds for employee training. Training must result in a certification or transferable skill. Apply on line at New York State Department of Labor, Workforce New York website at www.workforcenewyork.com. Grant awards are up to $100,000!!! At this point in time, there is no application deadline and all workers currently on staff are eligible for training.

Millions of dollars have been awarded to over 365 New York businesses under the BUSINYS grant!! Don't miss out!
Congratulations to:
Taconic Telephone - $99,920
DynaBil Industries, Inc - $80,785
CeramTec - $95,000
COARC - $59,000

The two awarded grants will provide training to 200 employees. Three hundred-seventy five training slots were funded covering a wide range of topics including: Lean Manufacturing, Computer Software, Networking, Sales, Human Resource, Customer Service and many more.

Don't wait, apply now! Please call me for assistance with your application. 518-828-4181 ext. 5510

NEW!!

If you are a manufacturer, have less than 99 employees and would like to improve your process improvement and/or productivity this is the grant for you! Companies will be awarded up to $50,000 to fund an outside vender to provide process improvement efforts. Training may include lean manufacturing principals, Six Sigma and productivity enhancement type trainings. It is required that company's have a management staff member attend one of the NYSDOL sponsored process improvement training or company staff would have had to attend a similar training in the last 12 months before filing the grant application. NYSDOL seminar dates will be listed on their website as they become available.

At this point the grants will be scored on their individual merits, however as the state grant allocation of $8.5 million dollars nears depletion the grants will become competitive. Applications will not be accepted after June 30, 2005. For grant information see http://www.workforcenewyork.com/.

E-Grants Unveiled for Organizations interested in federal funding. The following website: www.grants.gov is a single comprehensive site that contains information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs. The Web site now has information about more than 800 available grant programs involving all 26 federal grant-making agencies.The site provides information in a standardized format across the agencies and includes a "Federal Grant Opportunities" feature to help applicants find potential funding opportunities. The site also contains an "Apply for Grants" feature that greatly simplifies the application process by allowing applicants to download, complete, and submit applications for specific grant opportunities from any federal grant-making agency.

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The purpose of the HR Managers Roundtable is to provide a forum in which HR Managers can exchange information and get questions answered among ourselves. The next HR Roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21st at 7:30 at Columbia Greene Community College in the Staff Cafe. The purpose of the meeting is two-fold. We will discuss how the group would like to organizing itself for the next year. This includes determining the best format, schedule, discussion topics etc.

In addition, some members have an interest in setting aside time to discuss the new FLSA Regulations which go into effect on August 23, 2004. The following link provides info on the regulations. http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/ If you plan on attending please email me.

Do you feel recent high school graduates do not understand employer's expectations? Now is your chance to make a difference! The Workforce Investment Board, Columbia Hudson Partnership, Greene County Economic Development, Columbia County Chamber and the Greene County Chamber are working together to collaborate with area school districts to develop and implement a Youth Employability Certificate. This program will build working partnerships between schools and businesses. Business and community participation will be critical in the success of this effort and in developing our young people into productive employees. Volunteers will be needed for as little a time commitment as two hours a month. Volunteers/businesses can participate in many ways: guest speakers, mentors, portfolio reviewers, mock interviewers, field trips, job shadowing, internships etc. Please call and discuss how you can assist with this important effort. 518-828-4181 ext. 5510

Get involved in our pilot project and set the standards for the Certificate to let young people know what is needed in the workforce. We are holding a meeting with businesses on August 5th, 8:30-10:00 am at Columbia Greene Community College. All are welcome to attend, please call for more info. 518-828-4181 ext. 5510

Thursday, July 22, 2004 5:30pm
Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, 80 Vandenburgh Avenue, Troy
Call the Chamber for tickets 828-4417
Adults $15.00, Children 12 and under $12.00

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:30pm
Wilderstein Preservation 330 Morton Road, Rhinebeck
Reservations appreciated call 828-4417

Thursday, August 26, 2004 6:00-8:00pm
pre-boarding party at 5:00pm
Call the chamber for further information 828-4417

Thursday September 30th, 2004 8:00-10:00am
Presentor: Diane Lustenader of Lake Associates
Place: Pegasus Restaurant
Contact: Deb Spaulding, NYSDOL, 828-4654 ext. 205
or deborah.spaulding@labor.state.ny.us

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Annual Greene County Fair: July 28th-August 1st, East Durham
Now is the time to volunteer to help make the fair a success! Volunteer for a 4 hour shift and get into the fairgrounds for FREE! (if you choose to ride the midway, there is a $5.00 cost)
Please contact the Greene County Chamber at 943-4222 if you would like to help out..

Workforce New York can assist your business with its recruitment needs. List your jobs with us and we will match your skill requirements with job seekers in our Talent Bank. We can also help with interview space or candidate screening.

If your having a tough time finding the right candidate you need, check out America’s Job Bank and have the Resume Scout do the work for you! Through the scout, you set up an automated search to find potential employees. The results are e-mailed to you, on an ongoing basis at the intervals you choose and can viewed at your convenience. If you would like more information on America's Job Bank, please view the following website. http://www.ajb.org/

For more information on each of the above services call Deb Spaulding, NYSDOL, 828-4654 ext. 205 or email Deb at deborah.spaulding@labor.state.ny.us

If you have comments or feel this newsletter is helpful to you please let me know!

Maureen Boutin
Business Services Representative
Columbia Greene Workforce New York
4400 Route 23
Hudson, New York 12534
518-828-4181 ext. 5510
www.columbiagreeneworks.org

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If you can't find something you are looking for, please contact the Columbia-Greene Career Center for more assistance, (518) 828-4181 ext. 5510,TDD/TTY (518) 828-1399 or e-mail us .

one-stop@sunycgcc.edu