New Manufacturing Technology Pathways Training Program Announced

October 25, 2017

What: Hudson Valley Community College, working with the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), will hold a press event to announce the establishment of Manufacturing Technology Pathways, a brand new short-term, stackable credential training program for those interested in joining the Capital Region manufacturing workforce.

When: Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Lang Technical Building Room 108: Manufacturing Laboratory
Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy, NY 12180

Who: Presentations at the event will be made by:

• Hudson Valley Community College President Drew Matonak
• Center for Economic Growth President and CEO Andrew Kennedy
• Simmons Machine Tool Corporation President and COO David Davis
• Workforce Development Institute Capital Region Regional Director Dan Cullen
• Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board Executive Co-Director Bill Resse

Details: The Manufacturing Technology Pathways program is an intensive, multi-level program designed to allow participants to earn credentials in a short-term format to qualify for jobs or build on with additional coursework. The program is designed for adults who want to join the manufacturing workforce, but may not have the time or ability to commit to a full degree of certificate program all at once. It will also provide access to a variety of local manufacturers who have indicated difficulty filling positions.

The Capital Region and Mohawk Valley are the only New York State regions that have seen their manufacturing sectors grow over the past five years. However, the Capital Region's 10 percent growth rate is more than four times greater than the Mohawk Valley's, according to New York State Department of Labor statistics. During that period, the eight-county Capital Region added 3,080 manufacturing jobs. While large manufacturers such as GLOBALFONDRIES and Regeneron drove much of that growth, smaller operations also contributed to it. In fact, nearly nine in 10 manufacturers in the region have less than 50 employees.

Under the stackable credential model, the program will consist of two levels. Level 1 will be a short non-credit course, with classes online. Individuals completing this level of training will receive a local credential and be prepared to go immediately into entry level jobs in basic assembly and warehousing.

After completing Level 1, participants have the option to move up to Level 2 of the program, which will include an 80-hour boot camp offered over two consecutive weeks. Level 2 is a hybrid model, with online classes, in-person instruction and hands-on guided instruction in classrooms and labs. Training will build on the skills learned in Manufacturing Technology Pathway Level 1.

Level 1 of the program is expected to be offered in early November. The first Level 2 boot camp will be held in the Lang Technical Building at Hudson Valley on Dec. 18-22, 2017 and Jan. 8-13, 2018. The second boot camp will be held May 14-25, 2018.

The project is being created through a SUNY workforce development grant, with additional support from the New York State Workforce Development Institute, Center for Economic Growth and local manufacturing employers.
To learn more about or enroll in the program, contact Hudson Valley TEC-SMART Associate Dean Penny Hill at (518) 629-7294 or p.hill@hvcc.edu.

QUOTES:

"It's wonderful to launch the new Manufacturing Technology Pathways program and create another avenue to fill jobs in the local advanced manufacturing industry," said Hudson Valley Community College President Drew Matonak. "This industry is growing faster than positions can be filled, and we are happy to help our community get the skills and education they need to qualify for those positions. We are fortunate to have so many partnering organizations, businesses, and individuals moving this important initiative forward."

"This program will play an important role in building a strong workforce pipeline for the region's manufacturers," said President and CEO of the Center for Economic Growth Andrew Kennedy. "Through the Pathways study, we identified key skills that are highly sought after in the Capital Region. The Manufacturing Technology Pathways program will address these needs and grow our talent pool. Overall, this program will play an integral role in retaining our current manufacturers and making us an attractive place for future investment."

"As President of Simmons Machine Tool, I can attest to the value that this program will bring to the region's manufacturers," said President of Simmons Machine Tool David Davis. "The growing skills gap will continue to be a pressing challenge for the manufacturing community. This program will be extremely important in helping to remediate these gaps and keep our workforce strong."

"Our mission at Workforce Development Institute (WDI) is to grow and keep good jobs in New York State, and the Manufacturing Technology Pathways program will be another important tool to make that happen," said Regional Director of the Workforce Development Institute Dan Cullen. "WDI recognizes the significant impact that stackable credential programs can have on our region's workforce and beyond, and we are pleased to support this initiative."

"The workforce development boards of the Capital Region are excited to support this unique program," said Executive Director of the Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board Bill Resse. "Our most recent study, The Pathways Project for Advanced Manufacturing, indicated that there is a need for an entry-level manufacturing boot camp. This initiative is putting our research into action and helping us create a talent pool that meets manufacturers' needs."

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Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 85 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of nearly 11,500 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.