(Mattydale, NY – May 2015) On April 30 Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) held a press conference at Darco Manufacturing in Mattydale to announce the launch of a new pre-apprenticeship program designed to support the establishment of a well-trained workforce in New York’s manufacturing industry. This initiative, made possible through the Manufacturing Careers Partnership, will help accelerate job growth and local economic development.
“There are a growing number of manufacturing jobs that require specialized training but not necessarily a traditional four-year degree,” said Assemblyman Stirpe. “This initiative will help prepare students for the high-tech jobs that already exist in Central New York and connect them with local employers searching for skilled workers.”
Stirpe was joined by representatives from the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CEO), the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) and Darco Manufacturing to announce the partnership of employers, business groups, educators and community agencies designed to help close what is known as the “middle-skills gap” in Central New York.
Stirpe helped secure $600,000 in this year’s state budget to support training and certification programs for students interested in entering the field of advanced manufacturing, for a total of $1.2 million over the last two years. The industry partnership will draw on these funds to create a pre-apprenticeship program that helps to raise awareness of area jobs requiring specialized skills, identify students interested in long-term advancement in manufacturing and establish local certification and training courses specifically tailored to meet industry demand. In addition, community resources will be utilized to pair newly trained students with employers in the field.
“There is enormous potential for Central New York to succeed in the field of advanced manufacturing. But unfortunately, most local employers feel there just aren’t enough workers with the training and skills they need to fill open positions,” said Assemblyman Stirpe. “The industry partnership will help people find good-paying jobs and promote economic growth throughout our region.”
It is the hope that these efforts to establish a manufacturing-based apprenticeship program will serve as a model for other regions across the state, Stirpe noted.