U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) recently visited the Chenango-Delaware-Otsego Workforce Oneonta Career Center, meeting with workforce center leadership and clients and discussing his efforts in Congress to support workforce development programs. 

"Today, I toured CDO Workforce in Oneonta to see the work they do to prepare students for the modern workforce," Congressman Delgado said in a Facebook post. "I recently introduced the Gateway to Careers Act which will help ensure our young people are given every opportunity to succeed and develop a skill set that can lead to employment." 

In a press release, Congressman Delgado said, “I’m thankful to the folks at CDO Workforce for the robust discussion and hands-on look at the critical work they do to connect their clients with jobs and the skills necessary for the modern economy—especially helping our veterans find employment when they return from service.” 

“Workforce development programs are essential to growing the upstate economy, and I am deeply committed to enhancing career and technical education programs across our district to ensure young people are given every opportunity to succeed. This is why I introduced the Gateway to Careers Act, which would support organizations that help connect students enrolled in community college and career and technical education (CTE) programs, like CDO Workforce, with social services. By making sure that students have access to health care, childcare and transportation services, we can help ensure that they will be able to acquire the credentials needed for good paying jobs and fill critical gaps in our upstate workforce.”

The Gateway to Careers Act will create a career pathway grant program that would fund partnerships between community or technical colleges and workforce development partners such as state workforce development boards, industry associations, and community-based organizations. These programs would support efforts to offer wrap around services including child care, opioid addiction treatment, transportation, and other forms of assistance for community college and career and technical education (CTE) students.

Read More About The Gateway to Careers Act

Pictured: (back row) Sarah Lopez, DOL Labor Services Rep.,  Jim Howard, DOL Labor Services Rep., Congressman Antonio Delgado, Chris White, DOL Associate Commissioner, Beth Kilts, Otsego Co. Employment & Training Counselor, Alan Sessions, CDO Disability Resource Coordinator, Mary Jane Kelley, DOL Workforce Programs Specialist, Cheri Hess, Supervising Labor Services Rep., Bhala Jones, CDO Front Desk Clerk, Cameron McMicken, Broome-Tioga DOL Business Services Rep.
(front row) Cheyanne Shelly, CDO Program Assistant , Penny Seeger, Otsego Co. Associate Employment and Training Coordinator, and Kathy DeAngelo, Otsego Co. Sr. Employment & Training Counselor

Photo Courtesy Congressman Antonio Delgado