Workforce Development Board of Oswego County

Business Development Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Room 103 Rich Hall   Oswego State

 

‘The Business Development Committee shall identify and monitor the business services to be provided through the system, oversee public relations about business services, convene focus groups and community roundtables for identifying future workforce needs as related to economic development, identify available funding and assist in grant writing for employer training needs, and produce the State of the Workforce Report.’

 

Minutes

 

Present:  Mike Treadwell, Bruce Phelps, Wagner Dotto, Eric Behling, Joe Fiumara Staff: Nancy Bellow, Nick Della Penna

 

Mike Treadwell called the meeting to order.

 

Agenda Items

 

1) Approval of the January 27, 2010 minutes

Eric Behling moved to approve the minutes.  Bruce Phelps seconded.  The minutes were approved.

 

 

2) Roundtable Update- All

Each committee member gave a brief update to the group on what is new in their organization or business.

 

 

3) Training Update- Nick Della Penna

Nick updated the committee on the training activities supported by the system.  We have run only one customized training program in the 3rd quarter of PY’09- with Huhtamaki (32 participants).  A total of 20 people were trained via On-the-Job Training (OJT) contracts thus far this year.  Huhtamaki (7) and Pathfinder Bank (4 participants) were the largest contracts.    

 

NYSDOL is not offering any grant programs to businesses at this time.  They plan on offering a State-wide OJT program.

 

 

4) Business Services Team Update- Nick Della Penna

Huhtamaki has several people active in OJT.  Interface is recruiting for an Instrument Control Tech and an Engineer. Fulton CDA plans to make 5 job offers in the next 2 weeks.  One individual will start on 3/31/10 in an on-the-job training position funded through the Wage Subsidy Program.

 

Great Lakes Recycling anticipates 6-8 openings March – June.  2 of these positions have been filled. The US Census held on-site recruitment/testing sessions in January, February and March of 2010 for Census workers.  Sunoco was on site conducting interviews the weeks of 1/11 and 1/18/10.  They also conducted employee training on site in March 2010.  

 

14 individuals have been enrolled in OJT through the Wage Subsidy Program.  The following placements have occurred:  Great Lakes Recycling (1 and 1 pending) – funded through the Green Grant); OCO (3 and 2 pending) – funded through the Transitional Employment Program.  1 individual has been enrolled in OJT at Great Lakes Recycling through the Green Grant.  A second individual will be starting 3/31.

 

Trade Act Orientations were held on site at the One Stop in March, 2010 for employees laid off from Crucible Steel, CWR Manufacturing and Parker- Hannifan (located in Lyons, NY).

 

USDOL announced the availability of funding for a Community-Based Job Training Grant.  We are working with CNY Works, the Syracuse MDA, and Cayuga Community College about the possibility of submitting a regional application. 

 

 

5) Business Customer Satisfaction Survey – Nick Della Penna

Ten surveys were returned for the December quarter, from 21 that were sent out.  Six businesses used to One-Stop Center for Hiring  Assistance and seven used it for OJT’s.  All ten respondents indicated that the services provided to them were of value to their business, and all 10 were either “Satisfied” (1) or “Very Satisfied” (9) with their overall experience.     

 

 

6) Career Ladder Map Update – Nick Della Penna

Nick reviewed the initial 2010 tracking report to see who is visiting the site.  The report covers the 1st quarter of 2010.  Bruce Phelps suggested that we set goals for the amount of visitors to the site.  Nick will get the data on the number of High School students in Oswego County, and make a recommendation at our next meeting.  We will also look to create incentives for students to visit the site.

 

 

7) Next Meeting Date- July 21, 2010