Next Move NY: Workforce Development for Transitioning Soldiers

Next Move NY is here! This unique workforce development initiative focuses on assisting soldiers and their spouses as they transition to civilian life after their military service.

Through this program, Fort Drum becomes a valuable workforce pipeline for the North Country region, providing a much-needed boost to local businesses while encouraging military families to continue working and living in New York State. This initiative offers a comprehensive range of services to help soldiers pursue post-military careers, including career counseling, educational opportunities, job training and placement assistance.

Read on to learn more about Next Move NY will impact the economic growth of the North Country.

Next Move NY: Helping to Fill the Workforce Gap

Seeing a quickly growing need for skilled workers, the North Country Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) and various other community partners joined forces to win $10 million from the state to fund the Next Move NY initiative.

The Development Authority of the North Country was identified by the Regional Council to administer key components of the Next Move NY initiative.  The initiative will focus on matching transitioning soldiers, spouses and veterans to job opportunities not only across the North Country, but New York State.

To meet high demand across all industries, Next Move NY aims to connect with the roughly 4,600 soldiers and military spouses based at Fort Drum who leave the military each year. Of those transitioning soldiers, nearly a third report wanting to stay in the area – and often will if they can find jobs. That’s where Next Move New York comes in.

Acting as a bridge between employers and military families, this program makes the move to civilian life easier. For those looking to launch a new career, Next Move NY will help match them with local businesses and job training suited to their skills. On the other hand, those looking to start a new business will enjoy access to an entrepreneurial incubator to help bring their dreams to life.

“Fort Drum is vital to the North Country’s economy, and the soldiers and spouses who currently serve and live here are the key to unlocking the full economic potential for this region,” Governor Hochul said. “Next Move NY is creating a robust workforce training pipeline to help soldiers and their spouses receive in-demand job training while connecting them with employers, allowing them to thrive, succeed and ultimately stay in the North Country.”

Discover more ways our Drum Country partners can help you grow your business or career.

Services Available to Soldiers Participating in Next Move NY

While there have been smaller retention programs in place within the region, Next Move NY takes things to the next level. This effort will “leverage existing programs, partners and funding to create a system that supports, educates, trains, credentials and engages transitioning soldiers and spouses.”

Next Move NY staff will work closely with transitioning soldiers, spouses and veterans to ensure they have the tools they need and are connected to job, education, or entrepreneurship opportunities in the region.  The program will launch in early April 2025.  Future services will include:

• Online jobs matching portal
• Veteran employment ambassador program
• Career readiness, job and apprenticeship matching program
• Soldier recruitment and training incentive program for employers.

Next Move NY, Fort Drum and the North Country

To meet the goal of retaining more workers in the region, one of Next Move NY’s main goals is to promote the many opportunities in the area that match the skills and interests of Fort Drum’s military families. After all, much of their knowledge is directly translatable to civilian work, with ample career options available within law enforcement, financial services, manufacturing, the public sector and more.

Many major employers across the North Country have already signed on for this program, including Jefferson Community College, Adirondack Health and Monoghan Medical, as well as businesses based just outside the region such as Micron and GlobalFoundries.

As you can see, Next Move NY is a huge step forward for the North Country as a whole, bolstering both local businesses and communities. By embracing the full potential of Fort Drum’s military families, Drum Country will continue growing into one of the best places to live, work and play in the Northeast United States.