The North Country's Workforce Investment Board's Business Services Team provide market-driven services that help businesses compete and thrive in today’s complex, competitive, and ever-changing global economy.  Our team can help meet your business needs by assisting with your hiring goals, lowering your training costs, and reducing turnover rates. We can also provide recruitment assistance, job postings or other candidate outreach services.

Specific services include:

• Business Services representatives offering workforce solutions for businesses and organizations;
• Current and projected labor market and economic data;
• Business management counsel and assistance through the North Country Small Business Development Center; and
• Centralized meeting facilities for recruitment, interviews and training workshops.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was designed to assist business in finding skilled workers and to enhance access to other important workforce services. WIA provides opportunities for business to participate in training eligible youth and adults and connections to those who have received training from approved education and training providers.

•     Trained Workers – Several hundred individuals receive training each year under WIA to prepare them for occupations in our region. Most of this training takes place at the region’s community colleges or vocational institutions, and provides specific occupational skills to these individuals. Many of these trainees earn recognized credentials in their occupation, and have also gained skills in workplace competencies and computer literacy. Let us know of your needs.
•     On-the-Job Training – Business can receive a reimbursement of up to 50% of a trainee’s wages when they agree to hire and train an eligible worker. Trainees are often new entrants or those seeking new skills in order to become re-employed after a lay-off. Under certain conditions, employed workers whose wages are low may be eligible to participate. The complexity of the job and the skills of the worker determine the length of the training period. Trained staff offer assistance by referring appropriate individuals to the training opportunity, helping design the training plan, and providing on-going support during the training period and the year following.
•     Customized Training – Training can be designed to meet the special needs of a business or group of businesses that agree to hire or retain a worker upon successful completion of training and pay at least 50% of the cost of training. Employed workers who are not earning a self-sufficient wage may also be eligible to participate when the worker and the job meet specific conditions. The training may include occupational skill training as well as training in computer and workplace literacy, and as the name implies, will be customized to meet the needs of the participating businesses.
•     Internships/Work Experiences – Businesses can partner in improving the skills of the workforce by offering short-term work assignments, job shadowing or internships. These opportunities are designed to build work maturity skills and orient individuals to a specific occupation to assist them in determining a career choice. Although the opportunities are designed to improve individual skills, the business can use the opportunity to attract new or returning entrants to the labor market to careers in their field of business.
•     Layoff Assistance – Retraining opportunities and job placement assistance, tailored to the needs of the business and the laid-off employees are available. The New York State Department of Labor maintains a “rapid response” unit to help businesses successfully manage a large layoff or plant closure by working with management and labor to arrange appropriate retraining and re-employment services. If you are anticipating a major disruption for your workforce, contact the team early for confidential assistance. 
•     Limited Benefits – Limited financial assistance can be made available to individuals who participate in program services. Short-term assistance with transportation or child care, tools, equipment, uniforms and other benefits may be available to assist individuals when necessary.

To learn more, contact the Business Services Representative at: