The Charles R. Wood Foundation announced a new initiative in which it will provide $1 million to community-based initiatives aimed at improving the health of the population in the region.

The foundation’s board released a request for proposals (RFP) to encourage applicants to collaborate in efforts to improve the health status of the residents and to reduce health care costs. Funding consideration will be limited to organizations serving the New York counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington.

It will be distributed over the next three years.

Charlene Wood, board chairperson, said the foundation annually reviews over 150 individual applications to support the arts, children, and health services.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce has launches a Women’s Business Council (WBC) for its membership.
The council will be inclusive of women business owners, women professionals and sole proprietors, who will use the power of the networking to make a positive impact on their business growth, according to the Chamber.

“The impact of professional women in our region is profound,” said Michael Bittel, ARCC president and CEO. “The ARCC is blessed to bring together and connect so much talent in our area to further benefit our individual members, while more importantly positively impacting their businesses and our larger community as a whole.”

He said WBC members will see and learn from those at the next tier of accomplishment or experience. Unlike referral groups, the “give to get” aspect of the council is more geared toward sharing business knowledge and practical insight than referrals. The benefit of becoming familiar with each other is that it encourages more business among members of the group.

SUNY Empire State College is launching a Bachelor of Science in addiction studies program it says is the first of its kind.
It is intended to help address the urgent need for qualified substance use disorder treatment specialists in New York state and around the nation, officials said.

Students will be able to complete the unique B.S. in addiction studies degree online, face-to-face, or through an individualized blend to fit the busy lives of working professionals.

Enrollment opens in the spring of 2020.

Data from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) said a significant gap between the 21 million Americans in need of substance misuse treatment and the 3.8 million who actually received it. This means that only 18 percent of those who needed help were receiving it, officials said.

According to recent estimates by the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in the addictions field is expected to increase by 20 percent over the next 10 years. Further, various organizations report that the need for professionals with bachelor’s degrees and Credentialed Alcoholism Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certifications is on the rise.

The Washington County Local Development Corp. (WCLDC) and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) are currently accepting nominations for the Washington County Business Awards.

The award recipients and nominees will be honored at a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Christ the King Center, 575 Burton Road, Greenwich.

Nominated businesses must meet the following criteria:

• An established Washington County business with over two employees.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in July signed a law that reauthorized the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) program for five more years.

He aid it will ensure ongoing and meaningful participation of MWBEs in contracted state projects. The reauthorization of the law includes enhancements that will enable even more MWBEs to participate in and benefit from the program.

“The extension and expansion of New York’s nation-leading MWBE program will help ensure our economy is reflective of our values and of our diverse talent pool,” Cuomo said. “Diversity is New York’s greatest asset, and by signing this measure into law we will empower more women and people of color to participate in State contracts and continue our aggressive program to make contracting even more inclusive.”

“We are breaking down barriers for aspiring entrepreneurs and providing opportunities to ensure the growth and success of minority and women owned businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. “The renewal and expansion of our robust MWBE program advances New York’s nation-leading MWBE goals as part of our overall efforts to promote diversity. We are committed to encouraging and supporting minority and women owned businesses across the state, creating jobs and strengthening the economy.”