Funding advances for job program, border security

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July 21, 2010

Panel moves $475,000 grant on to committee

By JOE LoTEMPLIO Staff Writer The Press Republican Wed Jul 21, 2010, 03:28 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — Funding for the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce to revitalize an on-the-job training program has been approved by a congressional subcommittee.

"This funding is a big win for the North Country," Congressman Bill Owens said in a statement. "It will give our local employers the tools they need to hire and provide our residents the opportunity to develop their careers and expand their skills."

The $475,000 OK'd by the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee would be used for practical job training and the employment of targeted individuals by matching employers and trainees in Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties.

The idea is to provide basic assistance for employers to encourage the hiring of unemployed and underemployed people, career training and matchmaking between employers and trainees.

The funding request must now be approved by the full committee before it can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

If approved in the House, it must also be approved by the Senate before it can be considered by the president.

BORDER SECURITY

In other federal funding news, another round of Operation Stonegarden money for the North Country has been approved.

Clinton County will get $423,959 and Franklin County will receive $331,918.

The program aims to enhance cooperation and coordination among federal, state, territorial, tribal and local law-enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the U.S. borders along routes of ingress from international borders. That includes travel corridors in states bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as states and territories with international water boundaries.

"It is integral to our national security that we maintain this level of funding for our border communities," Owens said.

"Northern and Central New York face a series of challenges that are unique to our specific land ports and border crossings, and we must give our patrol agents the tools they need to secure our borders."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com