Letter from Will Rivera

Job Corps Needs Our Support

The proposed closure of the Oneonta Job Corps Center is more than just a budget cut; it’s a direct hit to opportunity, workforce development and community stability.

For decades, this program has offered a lifeline to young people, especially those who, like me, didn’t have many doors open to them.

Job Corps provides real skills, real structure and a real shot at a better future. Shutting it down would sever a vital pipeline for local talent who want to live, work and contribute to Oneonta after graduation.

I urge our local town, city, and Otsego County officials to advocate and speak up alongside our community. We must send a unified message to our state and federal representatives: protect Oneonta Job Corps and invest in our people.

I stand firmly with the students, staff and alumni of Oneonta Job Corps. I am calling on our state and federal representatives to act immediately to preserve this essential program. Oneonta deserves leaders who fight for our future, not walk away from it.

Will Rivera
Oneonta