Data centers latest scam for rich to get richer at others’ expense
Editor:
The citizens of Orleans and Genesee County need to understand the big money behind the proposed Data Center at the Genesee County STAMP site.
In August 2025 Stream Data Centers was acquired by Apollo Global Management, one of the largest private equity firms in the world. Founded by three former investment bankers one of whom resigned as CEO (Leon Black) in 2021 after he faced abuse accusations and was found to have paid $158 million to Jeffrey Epstein.
Data Centers are the latest scam being foisted on communities. They will cause great harm to the environment, use millions of gallons of water, raise your electric rates, and for what? To make billionaires even richer? To collect more data?
They sell this as a money maker for the county for the next 30 years. It’s a short sighted investment as the scam unfolds data centers will be obsolete and Genesee County will have a big block of concrete sitting on land that once was farmland.
Do we really want this dystopian behemoth in our community? Do we even stand a chance in this fight against one of the world’s largest private equity firms?
Darcy Beeman
Kent
Kendall FD hosts kids for pizza party after shoveling out fire hydrants
Photos courtesy of Kendall Fire Department: The Kendall Fire Hall hosted a pizza party for children who shoveled out a fire hydrant or a neighbor’s driveway during a snow day on Jan. 26.
Press Release, Kendall Fire Department
KENDALL – What started as a simple snow-day contest for kids last week quickly turned into something special for the Kendall Fire District and the entire Kendall community.
During the snow day, the Kendall Fire District posted a challenge on Facebook inviting children in the community to shovel out a fire hydrant or help clear a neighbor’s driveway. Any child who participated and shared a photo would have their name placed into a hat for a live Facebook drawing, with the winner earning a ride to school in a fire truck.
Kendall Deputy Fire Chief Mike Cole, back left, and Fire Chief Randy Davis greet kids who will get a ride to school on a fire truck.
“We honestly thought we might get four or five kids to take part,” said James Fox, Captain with the Kendall Fire District. “Instead, it turned into more than 40 kids stepping up to help others.”
The overwhelming response caught the attention of the district’s Public Relations and Community Outreach Team. Impressed by the number of young participants and their willingness to serve, the department decided they wanted to do more to show their appreciation. A pizza party was planned at the firehouse to recognize every child who gave their time to help the community, as well as the parents and guardians who ensured the activities were completed safely and shared photos with the department.
As soon as the pizza party was announced, local businesses began calling the firehouse asking how they could help. Community support poured in. Partyka Farms donated an ice cream cone for each contestant. J&M Auto Service paid for all of the pizza, while Hamlin Pizza Shack donated fried dough, soda and water, and provided free delivery of all the pizza.
The recognition continued at school as well. The Kendall School District honored every participant during its Student of the Month ceremony. District Chief Randy Davis and Deputy Chief Mike Cole attended the ceremony and presented certificates of appreciation to each child.
The pizza party was held yesterday evening at the firehouse and was filled with food, laughter, and fun. Kevin Watson, the elementary school principal, was the guest of honor and pulled the winners’ names from a hat. The district then decided why stop at just one winner?
Instead of selecting a single child, the District chose to fill three large fire apparatus with winners. As a result, four children will now receive a full escort to school in a fire truck. The winners are Jeffery Lutes, Nora Rasmusson, and siblings Presley and Brantley Cole.
What began as a fun snow-day activity became a powerful reflection of what Kendall represents: One Family, One School, One Community. District Chiefs Davis and Cole say they are excited about future events involving the community and encourage residents to be on the lookout for more fun and meaningful ways to get involved.
Gillibrand introduces legislation to require side guards on new tractor-trailers to prevent underride crashes
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN-9), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), and Deborah Ross (D-NC-2) introduced legislation to help prevent deadly truck underride crashes.
An underride crash occurs when a car slides under a large truck, such as a semi-trailer, during an accident. When these crashes happen, a car’s safety features are rendered useless because most of the car slides under the trailer and the trailer undercarriage crashes straight through the windows and into the passengers. The passengers in the car often suffer severe head and neck injuries, including decapitation. These accidents are frequently fatal, even at low speeds.
Studies and pilot programs show that a simple barrier attached to the lower area of a truck, called an “underride guard,” would help prevent a car from sliding underneath a truck in an accident. Under current federal law, unlike the rear of a truck, underride guards are not required to be on the sides or front of trucks. The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 would expand on current restrictions by instructing rulemaking to require side underride guards on new trucks, improving data collection, and directing additional research on underride crashes.
“Truck underride guards are one of the best and easiest solutions for protecting passengers during collisions with large trucks,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 is commonsense legislation that will protect passengers and make our roads safer. I look forward to working across the aisle to get this passed.”
Specifically, this bill would:
- Require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize rulemaking requiring side underride guards on commercial trucks.
- Restart the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Advisory Committee on Underride Protection, to provide recommendations for how to reduce underride crashes and severe injuries and fatalities caused by underrides.
- Require the DOT to publish a website making underrides research accessible to researchers, industry, and advocates.
- Instruct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the prevalence of underride incidents, including those involving the fronts of large trucks.
- Instruct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of the implementation of NHTSA’s 2022 rear underride rule and provide suggestions to better improve the rule.
- Instruct NHTSA to review its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and correct crashes in the database that should have been classified as an underride but were not.
- Instruct NHTSA to create free, on-demand web-based training for state and local law enforcement to better identify and document underride crashes.
In the Senate, the Stop Underrides Act 2.0 is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
This bill is supported by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, America Walks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety, Cascade Bicycle Club, Casey Feldman Foundation, Center for Auto Safety, EndDistractedDriving.org, Families for Safe Streets, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, League of American Bicyclists, Institute for Safer Trucking, Kids and Car Safety, Ride Illinois, Ride of Silence, Road Safe America, Sylvia Bingham Fund, Safe Routes Partnership, Stop Underrides, and Truck Safety Coalition.
Orleans sees big sales tax growth in 2025
County revenues increase 9.3 percent or by $2.2 million
ALBION – Sales tax revenues for Orleans County jumped 9.3 percent in 2025 or nearly $2.2 million from $23.42 million in 2024 to $25.59 million in 2025.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has a report showing the sales tax revenues for the counties in 2025. Orleans had one of the strongest growths in the state.
The county has seen steady growth in sales tax in recent years. It has now gone up nearly $8 million from the $17.7 in 2019 to the $25.6 million last year.
Orleans County sales tax revenues
- $25.6 million in 2025
- $23.4 million in 2024
- $23.1 million in 2023
- $22.5 million in 2022
- $21.8 million in 2021
- $19.4 million in 2020
- $17.7 million in 2019
In Orleans County, nearly all of the local sales tax generated stays with the county government. The 10 towns and four villages collectively have remained at $1,366,671, the same amount they have received since 2001. The town and village share amounts to 5.3 percent of the $25.6 million total.
Among counties, sales tax revenue increased 4.0 percent in 2025, with 52 of 57 counties seeing an increase. Among the rural GLOW counties, Wyoming and Livingston both went down slightly.
GLOW counties
- Genesee – $55.81 million in 2024 to $59.91 million in 2025, 7.4 percent increase
- Livingston – $48.13 million in 2024 to $47.99 million in 2025, 0.3 percent decrease
- Orleans – $23.42 million in 2024 to $25.59 million in 2025, 9.3 percent increase
- Wyoming – $26.82 million in 2024 to $26.77 million in 2025, 0.2 percent decrease
Chenango County saw the biggest increase at 11.8 percent, followed by Yates (11 percent), Hamilton (10.9 percent) and Delaware (10.7 percent).
Sullivan County had the steepest decline at 5.2 percent, followed by Schoharie (3.9 percent) and St. Lawrence (3.0 percent).
State-wide sales tax growth was up 3.9 percent, up significantly from the 0.6 percent in 2024 and higher than the average pre-pandemic growth rate (3.0 percent), the state comptroller’s office stated in its report.
New York City accounts for about half of the state-wide sales tax revenue. NYC saw a 5.0 percent increase in sales tax revenue, totaling $10.9 billion, which was up by $521 million.
Oak Orchard Health announces Gerald Archibald as Chief Administrative Officer
Press Release, Oak Orchard Health
Gerald Archibald
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health, a leading healthcare provider in rural, upstate New York has announced Jerry Archibald as its Chief Administrative Officer.
Archibald spent 12 years at Arthur Anderson & Co. before joining The Bonadio Group in 1986. Jerry has more than 35 years of experience delivering high‑quality advisory, assurance, compliance, and consulting services to over 300 government-based, tax‑exempt, and healthcare organizations.
In his new role, Archibald will be responsible for overseeing aspects of the company’s finances and operational framework.
He is certified as a Fellow in the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a Certified Managed Care Professional.
His expertise in the health and human service industries provides him with a unique perspective on all aspects of health and human service delivery systems. He has been involved extensively in health and human service client engagements, which involve the evaluation, assessment, and implementation of operating improvements.
“Jerry brings his exceptional pedigree that is unparalleled in the human services arena. Oak Orchard is lucky to have such a compassionate, intelligent executive join our organization,” said Marco Altieri, CEO.
John Slenker, chairman of the board, said, “With his extensive background and vision for the future, we are confident that he will help lead Oak Orchard to new heights and drive our mission.”
After tractor-trailer took down utility pole and trees, Clarendon couple stuck in house
Michelle and Matthew Cryer await cleanup from Monday night crash
Photos courtesy of Michelle Cryer
CLARENDON – A tractor trailer hauling grain crashed in the front of Michelle and Matthew Cryer’s property on Holley-Byron Road on Monday at 9:10 p.m. The truck from Whitetale Trucking in Gasport was hauling grain.
The truck took down trees, a utility pole with a transformer and a fire hydrant, while dumping tons of grain. The driver was able to walk away from the accident.
The Cryers haven’t been able to leave their property since Monday night because wires and pieces of the truck remain in the driveway, along with all the grain.
The driveway and front of the Cryers’ property is filled with grain after the tractor-trailer collided with trees.
National Grid was able to reset a pole and remove its fallen wires on Monday night, but Michelle Cryer said Spectrum and Verizon haven’t taken care of their wires, delaying the removal of the grain and chunks of the truck and trailer.
“We’ve been on the phone with everybody,” Mrs. Cryer said this morning. “The cleanup can’t happen because the wires are in the way.”
This tractor-trailer took down trees and wires after an accident Monday night in Clarendon.
Mrs. Cryer has cancelled doctor’s appointments because she couldn’t leave her property. Her home is set back about 200 yards from Holley-Byron Road (Route 237).
She and her husband felt the house shake with the crash, even though they are set back a distance from the road.
The accident happened on the curve of Holley-Byron Road, between Brown Schoolhouse Road and Glidden Road. Cryer said this is the seventh accident in the past 5 to 6 years.
“Consistently people are crashing on the front of our property,” she said.
The tractor-trailer on Monday was headed north and went off the road at the curve.
Since then the Cryers have been stuck home. They wanted to go out on Tuesday for Mr. Cryer’s birthday.
“We had to stay home but I told him his birthday came in with a bang,” she said.
UPDATE at 11:01 a.m.: Verizon was on site and left just before 11 a.m. after lifting its wires and also for Spectrum to allow for a cleanup of the front of the property.
Food distribution in Lyndonville cancelled for Friday, next one March 6
LYNDONVILLE – A food distribution scheduled for Friday in Lyndonville has been cancelled. The Lyndonville Presbyterian Church hosts the Foodlink Pop-up distribution.
The next one in Lyndonville will be on March 6.
There will be a Foodlink distribution in Albion at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at the parking lot at 165 South Platt St., next to Dubby’s Tailgate.
County leaders across state meet in Albany for Advocacy Day
Counties don’t want to be hit by federal cuts and cost shifts, especially with SNAP
Press Release, NYS Association of Counties
ALBANY – County leaders and officials from across New York State convened at the State Capitol on Tuesday for the New York State Association of Counties’ annual County Advocacy Day, meeting with state legislative leaders to advance shared priorities impacting counties and the communities they serve.
County officials held meetings with the Senate and Assembly leadership, including the Chairs of the Assembly and Senate Committees on Local Government, as well as numerous state legislators representing NYSAC member counties. Discussions focused on counties’ legislative concerns and NYSAC’s 2026 Legislative Program priorities and county-specific concerns affecting residents statewide.
“Counties are where state policy meets real life,” said NYSAC President and Oswego County Administrator Phil Church. “Counties are in Albany to ensure that our partners at the state level understand what we need to continue providing the essential services New Yorkers rely on while also protecting local taxpayers.”
During the meetings, county leaders emphasized the importance of infrastructure investment, government modernization and efficiency, workforce expansion, and systems reforms to keep New York affordable while maintaining essential services.
A central focus of this year’s advocacy was the need to hold counties harmless from the impact of federal funding cuts and cost shifts, particularly proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that could significantly increase local administrative costs and compliance burdens.
“When federal actions shift costs or impose new requirements, counties are often left to manage the consequences,” said NYSAC President Phil Church. “We’re urging the state to work with counties to protect local taxpayers and preserve the vital services that keep our communities strong.”
NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario underscored the bipartisan and statewide nature of the advocacy effort.
“County leaders from around the state came to Albany speaking with one unified voice,” Acquario said. “Strong state–county partnerships are essential to maintaining the services and programs that residents rely on every day, from public safety and infrastructure to health and human services.”
County Advocacy Day highlighted the role counties play as the primary implementers of state and federal policy, often with limited flexibility and significant fiscal exposure. NYSAC leaders stressed that proactive collaboration with counties can help the state achieve policy goals more effectively while keeping communities affordable and resilient.
NYSAC will continue working with state leaders throughout the legislative session to advance solutions that strengthen counties, protect taxpayers, and ensure local governments have the tools they need to succeed.
GCC recognized with award for cash management
Press Release, Genesee Community College
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has been honored with the esteemed 90+ cashVest Award for 2025, an award presented to multiple public-sector entities in recognition of exemplary leadership in public finance liquidity management.
The honor is awarded by three+one, a national financial-technology firm that specializes in evaluating cash-management practices within the public sector. This recognition underscores the organization’s commitment to utilizing data-driven insights to maximize every taxpayer dollar, delivering enhanced benefits to communities nationwide.
Garrett Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer of three+one and a GCC alumnus, commented on the award: “Collectively generating hundreds of millions in additional revenue in 2025 alone that would otherwise have to be raised in taxes or additional tuition is an amazing accomplishment. As each of these entities continues to navigate an ever-changing economic landscape, they have gone above and beyond to set a national standard in cash management and to certify they are doing everything they can to maximize their liquid cash resources.”
By maintaining a cashVest score of 90 or above for four consecutive quarters, Genesee Community College has demonstrated its commitment to effective cash management, improving financial stability, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources.
Dr. Craig Lamb, President of Genesee Community College, stated, “At GCC, we are deeply committed to being responsible stewards of public funds as we collectively seek to enrich our surrounding community, using every resource efficiently and strategically. I want to extend my gratitude to GCC’s Finance and Operations department for their efforts in ensuring we operate at the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. In addition, being presented with this award by GCC alumnus Garrett Macdonald, for whom we are so proud, makes this honor even more special.”
Albion girls score Senior Night victory over Roy-Hart; Wilson downs Medina
Albion boosted its Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball record to 7-3 with a 59-46 home court Senior Night victory over Roy-Hart this evening.
Aaliyah Jones scored 21, Leah Pawlak 14, Melia Prince 13 and Madison Muckle 8 to pace Albion.
Millie Owens scored 21 and Adella Dukes 14 to lead Roy-Hart.
Trailing 33-28 at the half, Albion rallied to outscore Roy-Hart 15-6 in the third period and 16-7 in the fourth to claim the win.
Wilson 54, Medina 20
Defending champion Wilson stayed undefeated at 9-0 by downing visiting Medina 54-20 as Rowan Simpson scored 15 and Bella Thrush 14.
Samantha Heschke scored 10 and Caliyah St. Louis 4 for Medina which trailed by only six, 19-13, at the half.
Akron 84, Barker 37
Cheyanne Rouse and Charlotte Haag both scored 9 and Elise Monaco and Kaylee Stoll 8 each for Barker in the loss to Akron.
N-O Standings: Wilson 9-0, Akron 7-1, Albion 7-3, Roy-Hart 4-5, Medina 3-5, Newfane 1-8, Barker 0-9.
Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville girls all score G-R basketball victories
Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville all scored victories in Genesee Region League girls basketball action this evening.
Holley nipped Attica 39-36 in overtime as Hanna Ostrom had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Brynn Thomas 9 points and 4 steals, Mia Thom 9 points and 9 rebounds, Ella Turpyn 3 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals and Kyla Burne 3 points and 4 steals.
Building up a 19-9 half-time advantage, Lyndonville went on to down Wheatland-Chili 32-27.
Isabella Groves led the Lady Tigers with 16 as Alexa Robinson added 4 and Leah Costello, Hannah Fox and Braelynn Dillenbeck each had 3.
Kendall romped past Alexander 73-35 as Mia Price had 23 points, Sophia Picardo 14, Teagan Shaw 11 and Izzy D’Agostino 10.
Purple Eagles even N-O record with win over Rams; Tigers down Bulldogs
Albion evened its Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball record at 5-5 by downing host Roy-Hart 61-35 this evening.
Tyler Cody scored 22, Nate Gibson 19 and Wesley Olles 9 to set the pace for the Purple Eagles which led 35-15 at the half.
Matt Aquilina scored 16 and Tysen McCaa 7 for the Rams which slip to 0-8.
Akron 60, Barker 47
Akron stayed in the N-O title chase by downing Barker 60-47 to improve to 7-2.
Derren Brooks and Ben Gerstung each scored 19 and Blake Gerstung 14 to lead the way for the Tigers as Brodie Hill added 5 and Ace Abrams 3
Anthony Taliaferro scored 20, Donovan Hefferon 11 and Carson Schwab 8 for Barker which is now 1-8
N-O Standings: Wilson 10-0, Akron 7-2, Medina 6-3, Albion 5-5, Newfane 3-6, Barker 1-8, Roy-Hart 0-8.
Akron wins six events at the annual N-O girls All-League swim meet
Akron dominated the action at today’s annual Niagara-Orelasn girls All League swim meet at Newfane by taking first place in six of 11 events.
Aurora VanDusen was an individual event double winner for Akron in the 500 Free (5:58.48) and the 100 Breaststroke (1:16.95) as Charlotte Carlson took the 100 Butterfly (1:08.45) and Brooke Milhollen the 100 Backstroke (1:09.98).
Akron also captured the 200 Medley Relay in 2:06.10 with the quartet of Milhollen, VanDusen, Carlson and Eliza Koopman and the 400 Free Relay in 4:14.12 with the foursome of Milhollen, VanDusen, Carlson and Avery Haak.
Albion’s Keira Sidari was a double winner in the 200 Individual Medley (2:22.53) and the 100 Free (:57.98).
Medina’s Madeline Mark won the 200 Free in a time of 2:15.46.
Newfane won the 200 Free Relay in 1:54.02 with the foursome of Eden Hillman, Sara Klinger, Riley Klopfer and Emma Haseley.
Hillman also captured the 50 Free in :27.87.
Lakemen rally to nip Mustangs in double overtime thriller to clinch tie for the N-O title
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson’s Aidan Neumann puts up a shot against Medina defender Christian Moss during the Lakemen’s thrilling double overtime win over the host Mustangs this evening. Moving in on the play are Wilson’s Shamus George (30) and Medina’s Carlos Doval (11).
Rebounding from as much as a 16 point first half deficit, Wilson rallied to outlast Medina 86-80 in a double overtime thriller this evening at Medina to clinch at least a tie for the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball championship.
Maintaining a two game lead, the Lakemen improve to 10-0 in N-O action with only two games remaining as Medina slips to 6-3 and out of title contention. Akron, which defeated Barker 60-47, is the only other team still in title contention as the Tigers improve to 7-2.
Medina sent the game into overtime deadlocked at 62-62 with a late 5-0 run on two baskets by Christian Moss and a free throw by Preston Woodworth to erase a 62-57 deficit.
The Mustangs then forced a second overtime period as a last second basket by Kolton Fletcher retied the contest at 74-74.
Jerrell Nealy, Woodworth. Moss and Kendrick Russaw also all had baskets in the period for Medina. Aidan Neumann and Chase Martin both hit threes for Wilson during that stretch as Brock Lepsch had two baskets and Ryan Hough one.
Medina then grabbed a 76-74 lead at the outset of the second overtime period on a layup by Moss.
Wilson though answered with a key 6-0 run on two free throws each by Hough and Lepsch and a layup by Neumann to regain the lead for good at 80-76.
A three by Neumann then off set a basket by Fletcher to keep Wilson up 83-78. The Lakemen then put a lock on the win on two free throws by Neumann and one by Shamus George.
Medina’s Jerrell Nealy goes up for a shot against Wilson defenders Shamus George (30) and Ryan Hough (14).
Neumann finished with a game high 34 points as Hough had 23, George 14, Lepsch 10 and Martin 5.
Woodworth led Medina with 22 as Nealy and Moss both had 18, Fletcher 7, Russaw and Carlos Doval 6 each, Jayzon Wills 2 and Avion Johnson 1.
Medina grabbed a narrow 14-13 lead at the end of a sea-saw first quarter which saw 4 ties and 5 lead changes. Nealy had 8 to lead the Mustangs in the early going.
The Mustangs then opened the second quarter with a big 18-3 run to race out to a 16 point, 32-16, advantage. Doval had two threes, Woodworth a three and a three point play and Nealy a pair of baskets to lead that uprising.
However, the Lakemen got back in the game by closing the period with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 10 at 34-24. Neumann had a three to cap off that rally.
Keeping the momentum, Wilson outscored Medina 19-14 in the third period to slice the deficit to five, 48-43. George and Hough both scored 6 and Neumann 5 to key that rally.
Medina maintained a four point, 57-53 lead with three minutes to go in the final period after a three by Woodworth and a jumper by Nealy.
However, Wilson answered back from long range as two threes by Hough and one by Neumann rallied the Lakemen into the lead for the first time since late in the opening quarter at 62-57 with 1:50 remaining.
The Mustangs though in turn answered back with a clutch 6-0 run on two layups by Moss and a free throw by Woodworth to send the tense contest into overtime deadlocked at 62-62.
There were three ties and two lead changes in the sea-saw first four minute overtime period which ended deadlocked at 74-74.
The Lakemen then pulled out the marathon title tie clinching victory by outscoring the Mustangs 12-6 in the second overtime period including 7 by Neumann.
Medina next visits rival Albion at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Wilson’s next N-O contest will be at home next Tuesday also against Albion.
Wilson’s Brock Lepsch grabs a rebound away from the Medina duo of Carlos Doval (11) an Kolton Fletcher (4).
Schumer says funds remain in federal budget to keep Job Corps program
‘Job Corps is one of the best bang-for-your-buck programs we have to boost our local economies’
Press Release, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign on Route 63 in Shelby notes the Iroquois Job Corps. This center has space for up to 225 students who are served by 104 full-time equivalent employees.
After Schumer stood at Job Corps centers across Upstate NY to lead the fight to protect one of the nation’s largest and most effective workforce training programs from Trump’s effort to eliminate it, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced he has successfully preserved funding for Job Corps and helping students across America, including thousands in New York, get the skills they need to enter in-demand careers.
“Job Corps is one of the best bang-for-your-buck programs we have to boost our local economies, which is why I fought hard to protect it from Trump’s proposed cuts,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m proud to announce that, following my advocacy, we have preserved funding for Job Corps, ensuring the continuation of one of America’s largest and most effective workforce training programs.”
The just-passed Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill rejects Trump’s call to eliminate Job Corps and instead provides $1.76 billion in federal funding to keep them open. Schumer also secured language that blocks the closure of Job Corps Centers unless such closures meet specific requirements.
Anand Vimalassery, National Job Corps Association Interim President & CEO said, “Job Corps faced unprecedented disruption and uncertainty over the last year. Through it all, Senator Schumer stood by our students and staff in Calicoon, Cassadaga, Glenmont, Medina, New York City, and Oneonta. His leadership is helping ensure young adults in New York continue to have a pathway into the skilled workforce through Job Corps and we’re grateful for his support.”
In May 2025, Trump paused operations at Job Corps centers nationwide. Afterward, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from shutting down Job Corps centers, and another federal judge said operations must resume until the previous case is resolved. Schumer explained that the Trump administration not only attempted to shut down Job Corps centers, but in his budget request, Trump said he wanted to totally zero out funding for the program, effectively killing the program without needing the approval of federal courts.
After hearing about Trump’s proposed cuts, Schumer last year traveled to Job Corps centers across Upstate New York, from the Iroquois Job Corps center in Orleans County to the Cassadaga Job Corps center in Chautauqua County and the Otsego Job Corps Center, to stand with students, staff, and small business owners and demand we protect this vital pipeline for skilled workers to fill jobs.
In addition to fighting back on Trump’s proposed elimination of funds for Jobs Corps in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill, Schumer led efforts in the Senate to oppose the Trump administration’s destructive and potentially illegal actions like pausing existing funds for the Job Corps centers.
Schumer called on U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to protect Job Corps and demanded answers on these destructive efforts. Thanks to Schumer’s leadership, the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill rejects Trump’s call to eliminate Job Corps and instead provides $1.76 billion in federal funding – which is consistent with the previous year – to keep them open and includes language to protect against Trump’s efforts to illegally shut down specific centers.
“The Iroquois Job Corps Center has been a cornerstone of opportunity in Orleans County for more than sixty years, helping young people gain the skills and credentials they need to succeed while strengthening our local economy,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “Preserving funding for Job Corps is critical for our students, our workforce, and our community. Thanks to Senator Schumer, the Iroquois Job Corps Center can continue delivering real pathways to good-paying careers and supporting the next generation of skilled workers.”
Schumer said Job Corps centers have helped millions of young people ages 16 to 24 finish high school, learn technical skills, and get jobs in in-demand fields such as healthcare and construction. Low-income and at-risk young people have received stable housing and healthcare while developing the skills they need to get good-paying jobs after graduation. Across Upstate NY, centers in Albany, Sullivan, Orleans, Otsego, and Chautauqua Counties serve thousands of young New Yorkers and employ over 500 staff.
