Area businesses, colleges to share $3.4 million in workforce development funds

More than five dozen businesses, community colleges and organizations will share $3.4 million in funding for workforce development this year as part of the state’s historic $175 million Workforce Development Initiative.

Funding is provided by the state Department of Labor, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the State University of New York. Since launching in May 2019, nearly $6.5 million has been awarded.

More than one-third of the 61 organizations awarded funds this year are in the Finger Lakes region, including:

• Berry Global
• Bonduelle Americas
• Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic
• Creative Food Ingredients
• Cutco Corp.
• Harbec
• Lifetime Assistance
• Markin Tubing
• McAlpin Industries
• Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
• O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative
• Optimax
• Orolia
• Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
• Park Ridge Nursing Home
• Pfisterer Lapp
• Prestolite Electric
• Rochester General Hospital
• Rochester General Long Term Care
• Spectracom
• University of Rochester Medical Center
• Unity Hospital

“These awards will help ensure that thousands of workers across the state are not only prepared for the jobs of today, but are ready to take on the jobs of tomorrow,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release. “New York’s workforce must adapt to the rapidly changing, modern economy and the Workforce Development Initiative will give our workers the edge they need to stay competitive.”

The professional training projects are supported by SUNY community colleges across the state, including Adirondack, Broome, Corning, Dutchess, Fashion Institute of Technology, Genesee, Jamestown, Monroe, Nassau, North Country, Tompkins Cortland and Westchester. Projects funded through the state DOL include sites in the Finger Lakes, Long Island and New York City. Projects funded through NYSERDA are all located in New York City.

“Developing a strong workforce pipeline is a significant issue facing communities all across New York State,” said DOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “This initiative helps address that by ensuring that industry leaders are engaged with the education and training providers from early on in the process, resulting in the creation of meaningful training programs that will have a real impact on the problem.”

The state’s Workforce Development Initiative was announced last May and is designed to support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, expand apprenticeships and address the long-term needs of growing industries.

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