The skills required to maintain New York’s canal system cannot be taught in a classroom. Dubbed "Canal Craft," the work demands on-the-job learning, creativity, and daily innovation from a workforce of over 500 people. With billions of dollars in capital needs and significant contributions from the New York Power Authority, Governor Hochul, and the state legislature, stewardship of the system is no small task. As the Erie Canal marks its bicentennial, the team at the Canal Corporation is already looking ahead to what viability looks like in a third century of operation.
