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Cayuga County's total population for 2000 was 81, 963. The largest proportion of this population resides within the center of the County and includes the City of Auburn with a population of 28, 574, surrounded by the five towns of Sennett, Throop, Owasco, Fleming and Aurelius. Other than the City of Auburn, there are twenty-three incorporated towns in Cayuga County ranging in population from Brutus with 4, 777 residents in 2000 to Sempronius with 893 residents. The total number of households in the County is approximately 30, 558, with approximately 11, 411 of those in Auburn. Although the County offers a diversity of housing choices, the majority of homes were built before 1939 and the County is well known for its wealth of 19th century architecture. Situated in central New York State between Syracuse and Rochester, Cayuga County has an ideal location and business climate. Wage rates, work ethic and cost of living are highly favorable to business and industry. The crime rate is substantially lower than the national average and the quality of life in the heart of the Finger Lakes region ranks second to none. Among Cayuga County's principal sources of employment is manufacturing, with most of the industry located in or near the City of Auburn. Products include electrical and electronic components, fibre optics, diesel engines, auto parts, glass bottles, plastic products, and high quality steel and machined products. Agriculture is also vital to the area's economy, with Cayuga County producing some of New York State's finest livestock, dairy products and cash crops. Cayuga County is the State's number 1 corn producing county and ranks 4th in milk production. Agriculture generates $125.4 million in income for the County. Economic development is a team effort in Cayuga County. Principal contacts for developers are Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development and the Auburn Department of Planning and Economic Development. Bond financing and tax incentive packages for new projects are available through the Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency and the Auburn Industrial Development Agency. Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce provides promotional support. Cayuga County Community College, Cayuga County Employment and Training Department, and the NYS Department of Labor offer training opportunities. Qualified Work Force: The Pathfinders, Site Selection/Location Analysis Consultants, from Dallas Texas recently completed a Workforce Audit for the Central New York area. Shown below are excerpts from the final report. The Pathfinders has employed its experience in workforce assessments for corporate site selection clients and a methodology developed for U.S. Department of Defense projects, in assessments of the civilian workforce in locations where military installations were scheduled for closure, to produce this assessment of the Central New York area workforce. The Central New York survey area includes Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. The region has a combined civilian labor force of approximately 386, 000 people. All of whom are within an hour commute of any employment site within the region. The findings include: 1. While the unemployment rate in the Central New York area is low, a new employer will be able to attract employees from an additional pool of about 76, 000 UNDEREMPLOYED workers. 2. Those workers possess the skills, experience and education to qualify them for the pay rates at which they would take a new job, ranging from less than $7.00 to over $25.00 per hour.