What is the Capital Region Workforce Development Board?
Brian Williams
Executive Director
The Capital Region Workforce Development Board (WDB) is composed of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the Chief Elected Officials of the City of Albany, Albany County, Rensselaer County, and Schenectady County. The WDB strives to strengthen the skills of the Capital Region’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The Workforce Development Board sponsors the three (3) Career Centers in the region that offer a variety of programs designed to help adults and youth identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills. Programs are funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The Career Centers also support and provide services to businesses, including employee recruitment, training, and business retention programs. The Capital Region Workforce Development Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
About the Area.
21 education institutions, including world-renowned research universities and nationally ranked schools.
Albany is ranked #3 in U.S. News’ “10 Best Places to Find a Job in Technology.”
Albany is ranked #4 on ZipRecruiter’s list of the fastest-growing tech job markets.
Responsibilities of the Board.
What is a One Stop career center?
WIOA requires a “One-Stop” Delivery System where more than 24 state and local agency partners are tasked with delivering a universally accessible, integrated system of labor market information and education/training programs. One-Stop Career Centers are accountable for the results of their work.
What Services does a One Stop Career Center deliver?
Labor market information
Resource library
(including computers)
Job search assistance
(resumes, interviewing)
Free office resources
(telephone, fax, copies)
Employee search assistance
(for employers)
Support services
Training
Here’s a look at the reasons why businesses are thriving in the Capital Region:
- Diverse industry clusters, from bio life sciences, nanotechnology and chemical manufacturing to semiconductor development and clean energy production
- A wealth of cutting-edge companies and consortiums across a variety of sectors, including Curia, Regeneron, Plug Power and AngioDynamics, can be found here.
- A highly productive, educated workforce where one-third of workers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and more than 10,000 jobs were added in the last year.
- Forbes ranked Albany #15 on its list of America’s Most Innovative Cities.
- The region has received $588.9 million from the state to support 813 projects through the Consolidated Funding Application since 2011.
- Home to a Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology (SUNY Polytechnic Institute), Centers for Advanced Technology in Future Energy Systems and in Automation Technologies and Systems (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and the headquarters for General Electric Global Research.
- Easy access via air (Albany International Airport), interstate highways, rail (Amtrak), and the deep water port of Albany-Rensselaer on the Hudson River.
- The region includes 24 parks and historic sites with a combined annual attendance of more than 4 million people.
