NORWICH – Chenango County is taking steps to join a new New York State Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program built to expand workforce training for public employees, with an eye toward eventually addressing critical staffing needs like emergency medical services.

On Tuesday, the County Personnel Committee agreed to advance a proposal from County Personnel Officer Matthew Caldwell to the Board of Supervisors, which will vote at its September meeting on whether to submit an application to the state labor department.

The state-sponsored program offers municipalities financial support and a framework to train apprentices in fields of need. If its application is approved, Chenango County would serve as the official employer, selecting specific trade tracks through the state’s roster of already approved trades.

Caldwell, who has been in discussions with state representatives for about a year, said the county must complete a mandatory two-year probationary period before expanding the initiative to larger departments.

"It’s a good way to train some of our employees in different specific fields," Caldwell said of the program. "The state has been pushing these apprenticeships."

To establish the program effectively, Caldwell plans to launch it strictly within the Human Resources department, where he already has two employees in mind for the initial rollout.