Grant to Address Rural Healthcare Workforce Shortages in New York

Utica, NY – The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Herkimer, Madison & Oneida Counties, Inc., announces that Jennifer McGauley will lead their Rural Healthcare Workforce grant as Project Director. The $2,500,000 grant was recently awarded via the U.S. Department of Labor to address rural healthcare workforce shortages in Central and Northern New York State.

Ms. McGauley has several years of experience in grant work with the Workforce Development Board, having previously served as the Contract Administrator for the organization. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Marist College and continued her education at Syracuse University College of Law. She obtained her Juris Doctorate and is a licensed attorney.

Ms. McGauley says she is excited to return to the WDB and looks forward to the opportunity to work with the rest of the staff to grow the healthcare workforce in Upstate New York.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for healthcare workers, particularly in rural areas where there was already an acute need. The grant aims to help individuals gain the skills necessary to provide needed services, fill vacancies, and allow employers to find skilled workers more readily.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of our frontline and healthcare workers and the irreplaceable jobs that they hold,” says Ms. McGauley. “It also demonstrated the shortage of workers we have in crucial healthcare fields at all levels, from nurses to CNAs. We hope to help fill some of those shortages in the workforce with new individuals looking for employment in healthcare, and by helping current healthcare workers increase their credentials to move up the ladder into higher ranking jobs. We are lucky enough to have partnerships and support from numerous employers and training agencies across Central New York and the North Country, which will help us reach a broad audience of workers that we can assist in their employment goals.”

As part of this initiative, the grant aims to serve some 600 unemployed and underemployed residents across 17 counties, including Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Fulton, Montgomery, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Jefferson, Lewis, Warren, Washington, Essex, St. Lawrence, Hamilton, Franklin & Clinton Counties. The individuals served will receive training in a wide range of subject areas resulting in credentials, from micro-credentials to degrees, based on needs, abilities and experience, to place trainees in jobs where they can advance along career ladders.

Anyone with questions regarding the Rural Healthcare Grant can contact Jennifer at 315-207-6951, extension 117, or by email at jmcgauley@working-solutions.org.