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Workforce & Economic Advancement

Our workforce development effort is multifaceted. Our goal is to have a well trained workforce so that businesses can thrive in Rensselaer County.

What do we mean by Workforce Development?

Our education efforts include:

  • Working with K-12 schools and colleges and universities to help students with career exploration
  • Working with educators to help them understand the needs of local business
  • Connecting both groups for job shadowing and internship opportunities.
  • These efforts span white collar, high tech, manufacturing and trade opportunities
  • Assist with regulatory barriers that prevent schools and businesses from working together. For example coding opportunities not available in all K-12 schools and hiring former trades people to teach in the schools, etc.

Our community efforts include:

  • Working with not for profits and agencies in providing people looking to re-enter the workforce with job skills. (these efforts are similar to those with our education efforts)
  • Working with Rensselaer County One Stop to assess what gaps exist

Our attraction efforts include:

  • Insuring there is positive messaging on the quality of life in Rensselaer county so our members will have resources when recruiting out of the area
  • Assisting with messaging out of the area to recruit new employees
  • Working with local colleges and universities to insure they serve as a pipeline to our members
On August 12, 2026, Rachael Capo, Esq., Director of Procurement and Chief Procurement Officer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was honored with the Leadership Institute Impact Award in recognition of her extraordinary dedication to the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber Leadership Institute, the region’s only skills-based leadership…
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