EMPORIUM — Regional veterans career employment representative Byron Sutton presented information on programs to benefit veterans and businesses where veterans are employed during the Cameron County Commissioners meeting held Thursday in Emporium.

Sutton is currently working with county Veterans Affairs’ (VA) directors from the four-county region made up of Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter to learn what local companies need in their employees and provide training opportunities to veterans to fill those roles.

“I’m finding that the small, rural counties deserve the most attention in a lot of cases. They’re forgotten or not as much effort is put in there,” said Sutton. “We try to fill the spots with veterans, but a lot of these programs end up benefiting the communities at large” because civilians are also accepted into training programs or given opportunities when there are no veteran candidates available.

Sutton stated there are programs that provide training money to help quality applicants who are not fully qualified for necessary positions, and there are funds available for both veterans and non-veterans.

“If we can get some people trained through these programs and filling these positions, it’s a win for the county, a win for the veterans, and a win for the community,” Sutton said.

Wage subsidy programs are also available, as are programs that pay a stipend to veterans to allow them to complete training courses.

Sutton works through CareerLink, networking with county VA representatives including Joe Williams, of Cameron County, who attended the commissioners meeting Thursday with Sutton.

In other business, commissioners reported that progress on construction of a new pavilion and other improvements at the county recycling center are progressing on-schedule, and work is expected to be completed ahead of the mid-July grant-funding deadline.

Act 13 funding was awarded to the Sylvan Heritage Council (SHC) for use in the Downtown Façade Improvement Project. Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) funding was applied for, but SHC did not receive that award. Instead, the project will be slightly scaled back, and funding will come from local sources and business-owner matching funds. The county approved an Act 13 disbursement of $6,750 for the project; the Emporium Borough has pledged about $4,000; the Industrial Development Board $1,000; and SHC will put in $4,500.

“We feel it’s a very good program and we’re willing to help them make improvements in the county,” said Reed. Commissioner Jim Thomas said that SHC projects have been well-done in past cases, and county officials felt this would looked over in a similar manner.

Cameron County students recently completed in the EnviroThon, a competitive environmental science quiz bowl for high school-age students. Cameron County teams’ students work with students in McKean County to prepare for the event. This year, one Cameron County team advanced to the next level. Commissioner Lori Reed commended the students, teachers, and conservation district employees who put in many long hours in preparation for the competition.

The next meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners will be held at 10 a.m. June 29. The meeting has been moved forward one week to accommodate the July 4 holiday.