RensCo on the Road delivers information

Resource fair highlights services, programs of county government

BRUNSWICK, N.Y. » On Tuesday night, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin was able to show off one of his new initiatives.

McLaughlin held his first RensCo on the Road on Tuesday night at the Brunswick Community Center, located on Keyes Lane, just off Route 7, in Brunswick. The event was open to the public and free of charge.

McLaughlin said he wanted to create this initiative as a way to bring county government into communities during 2018.

County officials said RensCo on the Road will serve as a resource fair that provides residents access and a greater understanding about the operation and function of county government. The events will also highlight services and programs provided by county government.

Participations of the event were many county service providers including Department of Aging, Department of Social Services, Employment and Training, Health Department, Probation Department, Veterans Service Agency, Youth Department and other services and departments.

“We want to let [the residents] know what we do for them because a lot of the time people think it’s the city or it’s the state and they kind of bypass what the county actually does, but we offer a lot, and also you want to make sure that people out there that need the services the county provides are connected with us so that we can get them what they need,” said McLaughlin at the event in Brunswick.

Residents who attended Tuesday night’s event said that they are glad that this kind of program is being offered throughout the county now.

“My daughter asked me to come up here for her [since she is working tonight] to see if I can pick up any brochures or anybody’s cards that might be able to help her [with her job at the county jail’s Re-Entry program],” said county resident Ann Hull.”I think this is a great idea.”

“This has been wonderful because I’m meeting other people and I’m also making more contacts,” added county resident Dawn Balak. “I really think this is awesome to have.”

The RensCo on the Road program is part of an initiative by McLaughlin to bring county government closer to the people. As County Executive, McLaughlin has also launched new social media sites to provide information and updates on county government.

County officials said that they will soon announce the next date and location for the initiative.

NICHOLAS BUONANNO — NBUONANNO@TROYRECORD.COM Residents talk with different Rensselaer County department officials Tuesday night in Brunswick for the first RensCo on the Road event hosted by the county executive’s office.

NICHOLAS BUONANNO — NBUONANNO@TROYRECORD.COM Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, in the center-left of the photo, talks with a resident during his RensCo on the Road event Tuesday night in Brunswick.

NICHOLAS BUONANNO — NBUONANNO@TROYRECORD.COM Rensselaer County resident Ann Hull receives some information from one of the county departments at the first RensCo on the Road event Tuesday night in Brunswick.