GRANTEE:                   Manufacturers Association of Central New York, Inc.

ADDRESS:                  Fifth Floor, One Webster’s Landing

                             Syracuse, NY 13202

AMOUNT:                    $1,200,234

DURATION:                January 5, 2004 - January 5, 2007 (36 months)

POPULATION SERVED:  This project will serve 120 (approximately 60 incumbent and 60 unemployed) workers in the fields of Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Engineering. 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  This project will create and operate four custom certificate programs.  The four certificate programs have been developed in conjunction with local businesses to address H-1B level high technology skill shortages in the critical areas of Biotechnology, Engineering Design Tools, Renewable Energy Design and Construction, and Indoor Environment Quality.  Each certificate program is compromised of four specialized classes, lab education/training courses, and an internship that will provide on-the-job training and mentoring.  An individual is expected to complete any of the four certificate programs in 12-18 weeks.   

Partnering employers will provide $594,000 match in tuition fees and salaries for interns and an additional $608,616 in-kind match will be provided by partnered employers and training providers; $1,202,616 in total.

This project claims three main benefits for individual trainees: 1) provide individuals with new skills; 2) award individuals with professionally recognized certificates created specifically for this program and its partnered employers and; 3) put individuals who have reached a plateau at their current position onto a new career track.  These three items will help the individual achieve employment, wage/salary increase, or promotions on a case-by-case basis. 

Participants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or verified equivalent professional experience with their current employer to be considered for the program.  Admission decisions for these individuals will be made on a case-by-case basis by the program management team based upon admission standards and procedures developed in consultation with the Project Advisory Council consisting of members from all partners in this project.

KEY PARTICIPANTS:  Biotechnology Research Center; Blasland, Bouck & Lee; The C&S Cos.; Manufacturer’s Association of Central New York (MACNY); New York Indoor Environmental Quality Center (NYIEQ); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; The O’Brien & Gere Cos.; OP-TECH Environmental Services, Inc.; QPK Design; State University of New York, Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF); Syracuse University; Terra Solar. 

MEDIA CONTACT:    Karen DeJarnette

                            (315) 474-4201 x20