Byline: CAROL DeMARE - Staff Writer
ALBANY - County Executive Mike Breslin will be keynote speaker at the January Roundtable Luncheon, gearing his talk to various issues from a county government perspective.
Founded in 1979, the Albany Roundtable is a nonprofit civic lunch forum that presents speakers with diverse viewpoints on timely subjects relating to the Albany region, according to material announcing the gathering.
It was founded by a group of Albany citizens interested in furthering the renaissance taking place in the city, according to the brochure.
This month's luncheon is at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the third-floor former courtroom of the Old Federal Building, now part of SUNY Plaza, at the foot of State Street.
The Feb. 14 Roundtable speaker is Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings.
'This is an opportunity to discuss our goals for Albany County in 2007,' Breslin said in a statement about the luncheon.
'This year we will focus on changes in long-term care health care including alternative home and community-based services as well as nursing homes,' he said. 'We will also continue to enhance services for children. And, economic development will remain a priority, particularly attracting high-tech business and continuing the development of the convention center, which will result in the creation of new jobs.'
In releasing his 2007 budget last fall, the county executive said in a statement that the new spending plan provides for the county Department for Children, Youth and Families to conduct an analysis and evaluation of resources and models for child sexual abuse response protocols to effectively re-establish a Child Advocacy Center in the county.
The county is also developing ways to maximize the opportunities of job growth associated with the convention center development, he said at the time.
Breslin said he created a plan to ensure that members of the local community will be prepared to take advantage of the job opportunities created by the construction and operational phases of the project.
The new budget establishes the Building Bridges program, which aims to 'maximize participation of local residents in the construction work force and hospitality trades and assist low-income individuals with preparing for these well-paying, high-demand jobs.'
Building Bridges was described as a partnership among the county, local trade unions and not-for-profit organizations to provide training and other services for eligible individuals.
The program will provide participants with career counseling, training, mentoring services, job placement, child care, transportation and other support services.
Carol DeMare can be reached at 454-5431 or by e-mail at cdemare@timesunion.com.
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