The Cassadaga Job Corp is located at 8115 Glasgow Road in the town of Pomfret.

CASSADAGA – It appears Job Corps in Chautauqua County will be closing its doors, at least for the immediate future.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that it is “pausing Job Corps Center operations at contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide.” The Cassadaga Job Corps, which sits on Glasgow Road just outside the village, is one of 99 non-federally operated Job Corps centers.

In a news release Thursday, the Department of Labor states, “The decision follows an internal review of the program’s outcome and structure and will be carried out in accordance with available funding, the statutory framework established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and congressional notification requirements.”

The pause of operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers will occur by June 30. “As the transition begins, the department is collaborating with state and local workforce partners to assist current students in advancing their training and connecting them with education and employment opportunities,” the Department of Labor stated.

According to the news release, the department’s decision aligns with President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal and reflects the Administration’s commitment to ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results for both students and taxpayers.

“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer stated in the news release. “However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program’s possibilities.”

According to the news release, the Job Corps program has faced significant financial challenges under its current operating structure. In 2024, the program operated at a $140 million deficit, requiring the Biden administration to implement a pause in center operations to complete the program year. The deficit is projected to reach $213 million in 2025.

In an email, a Department of Labor official said that the Cassadaga center has a graduation rate of 39.53%. “High schools with graduation rates below 67% are considered low performing under federal law. The cost per graduate at this center is: $123,654.22,” the official wrote.

The Department of Labor states that funds will be used to pause program operations, which includes managing facilities, maintaining student records, and ensuring students are connected with necessary employment and program resources.

The Job Corps is a federal job training and education program designed to serve low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who face barriers to education and employment, founded by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

The Cassadaga Job Corps first opened in August, 1978.