The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC), along with the Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board and the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES, are collaborating with employers and school districts to launch the inaugural annual Career Jam.

The event, to be held at HVCC’s TEC-SMART, 345 Hermes Road, Ballston Spa, on Oct. 25 in Malta, aims to promote area job opportunities to raise awareness among eighth and ninth grade students, their families and educators of the direct skills and jobs needed in the region.

Organizers said highlighting these job options earlier can help influence student education and training choices and retain their talents to fill local jobs that can drive future growth.

“We are excited to partner with key stakeholders in business and education to deliver this first-of-its-kind event in our region,” said Dennis Brobston, president of SEDC. “This student-employer exchange is in direct response to the voiced concerns of business leaders and educators wanting to better align skills development with needed workplace job opportunities.

“The number one challenge for businesses of all sectors and sizes in recent years is finding workplace ready employees. By collaborating with area school districts, the regional BOCES, and the area Workforce Development Board, we identified from our friends in the North Country this fun, engaging method to bring young people and employers together.”

The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund announced launched its fifth Autumn of Giving Match Campaign on Oct. 1. The campaign brings together the ATC Community Fund, Adirondack Trust Co.  and community-minded individuals and businesses to raise donations to benefit the Fund’s annual, local, charitable Lend-A-Hand Grant Program.

The campaign’s goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000 in donations from the community, similar to the results of last year’s match campaign, officials said.

Contributions are derived from donations, fund raising initiatives sponsored by generous local business campaign partners, and sponsorship/ticket sales for the signature event, An Evening of Autumn of Giving, which will be held at Longfellow’s on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Adirondack Trust will match all money raised during the month of October.

Speaking on behalf of the ATC Advisory Committee, volunteer chairwoman Caroline Putman said the campaign offers an opportunity for all contributors “to ‘double’ their money for their community with their donations for this campaign. We are extremely grateful to the Community Fund’s supporters that have been with us since the beginning, and those that have since joined. With community members participating in our business partners’ innovative October events, everyone can add even more.”