Governor Kathy Hochul isn't playing around when it comes to gearing up New York's workforce for the future. She just dropped the news of a hefty $40 million investment in a state-of-the-art workforce training facility at Hudson Valley Community College. The space dubbed the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC), will stretch out over 125,000 square feet and aims to unlock the door to in-demand careers like renewable energy and semiconductor manufacturing. The plan is to have this powerhouse up and running by 2027, filling industry gaps with well-paid jobs—because that's what the people need.
Investments of this kind aren't just about throwing money at a problem; they're about building a foundation that will keep on giving. With industries hollering for qualified workers, this facility is expected to train a jaw-dropping up to 5,000 skilled technicians over the next decade — a needed boost to the applied tech and skilled trades fields. "We're training New Yorkers in the jobs of the future — investing in an economy that lifts up communities in the Hudson Valley and beyond," Hochul said, as per the Governor's Office.
The ATEC isn't going to be all talk. Once its doors swing open, it’s expected to overhaul program enrollment by 200 percent. According to Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, these strategic investments in workforce development are the real deal, ensuring New York has the talent pool ready to dive into growing industries with good-paying jobs. The building they're replacing? Let's just say they had a good run since the '60s and '80s, but it's time for an upgrade.
But let's not forget it takes a village to raise a college facility from the ground up. With an additional boost from federal funds, local county support, and private sector partners, ATEC will have the tools to equip, empower, and launch the local labor force into a new stratosphere of job possibilities. "The new Applied Technology Education Center will play a pivotal role in feeding a critical workforce pipeline in the region that will help keep our economy moving forward," told Roberta Reardon, the New York State Department of Labor Commissioner, in what seems like an understatement considering what’s at stake here, as noted by the Governor's Office.
Cheers are coming from all corners of the state, with both senators, Schumer and Gillibrand, singing praises for the investment aimed at making Hudson Valley Community College a beacon of high-tech training and economic growth. Representative Paul Tonko also chimed in, celebrating the focus on generating opportunities in sectors like renewable energy and semiconductor manufacturing. With adult learners flocking to upskill for free through the SUNY/CUNY Reconnect Program, it's clear that New York's not only talking the talk but walking the walk in fostering career growth and economic vitality.
