WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the application is now open for the $10 million Next Move NY initiative – the North Country Regional Economic Development Council’s award-winning strategy to strengthen workforce opportunities for transitioning soldiers and their families.
The initiative will consider projects that will create a workforce development pipeline to retain local soldiers and their spouses by providing opportunities that support, educate and train the more than 3,600 soldiers that transition out of service at Fort Drum each year. Intent to propose applications are available here and may be submitted through Friday, May 3.
Next Move NY will build upon existing programs, partners and funding to create a system that supports, educates, trains, credentials and engages transitioning soldiers and spouses to help fill the employment needs of businesses and employers of the North Country and the greater New York State.
Applicants will help create the infrastructure and programming to build a workforce development pipeline for transitioning soldiers and spouses. The program is being funded through a $10 million grant awarded to the North Country Regional Economic Development Council in 2023 as part of Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Challenge Competition. It’s designed to implement bold proposals to bolster workforce development efforts and address other local concerns. The REDC’s proposal is available here.
Next Move NY is a win for transitioning soldiers, the North Country and New York State. This program will offer transitioning soldiers from Fort Drum a seamless connection to jobs, credentialing and degrees in the North Country. Our goal now will be to work with our partners and New York State to help solve the workforce issue for the North Country. Next Move NY will build the most robust transitioning soldiers and spouses workforce pipeline in the country.
Officials are hoping the program will tap into the severe worker shortage. Fort Drum is the largest Army installation in the Northeastern U.S. and is New York’s largest single site employer with over 15,000 active-duty service members stationed in Watertown. The initiative is hoping to expand workforce and training opportunities. There’s also hope that the program will diversify the area’s economy.
Applicants seeking consideration for their projects in the Next Move NY Implementation Plan, with potential for Next Move NY funding, may submit an Intent-to-Propose application through the Consolidated Funding Application portal here.