| Like much of Central New York, the city of Cortland has been in steep economic decline for more than 20 years, due mainly to industrial downsizing, relocation, or plant closings. Since 1992, industries in or near the city have sustained more than 2,500 lost jobs. With an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, Cortland County now ranks 55th out of 62 New York counties with respect to employment. The COPC at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland is working with community leaders to address employment and economic development issues that have resulted from this decline. Since 1997, faculty from SUNY Cortland have served as members of the Resource Allocation Committee (RAC), a group of more than 20 city agencies and community-based organizations that has been meeting regularly to establish community priorities and implement strategies to meet them. As a result of RAC recommendations, the city established a One-Stop Career Services Center in 1998 that will be the locus for community economic development, job training, and human services referral. RAC also was instrumental in generating community input for preparation of the college's COPC application. The COPC, to be housed at the One-Stop Center, will focus on issues as community planning, crime prevention, economic development, job training, education, and research and evaluation.
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