Hochul wants Syracuse to anchor network of 4 new workforce training centers for tech jobs

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants Syracuse to serve as the flagship of four new workforce development centers that the state would help establish across Upstate New York to serve Micron Technology and other high-tech manufacturers.

Hochul unveiled the plan at her 2024 State of the State address today, saying the centers would help meet the rising demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing, especially in the semiconductor industry.

The state would establish the One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships (ON-RAMP) that would offer credentials and training, with a focus on providing opportunities for the underserved or disadvantaged.

The centers would be built at sites to be determined along the Thruway corridor connecting Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, Hochul said.

The flagship for the workforce development network would be coordinated in Syracuse by CenterState CEO, an economic development organization based in the city. The other locations would be determined on a competitive basis.

Hochul said the training network is essential to meet the demand of employers like Micron. The company has said its planned $100 billion investment in a complex of computer chip plants in the town of Clay would create 9,000 direct jobs and 40,000 spinoff jobs in other industries.

Dominic Robinson, senior vice president of inclusive growth at CenterState, said the organization would open a new location in Syracuse to serve as a hub that connects workers with existing training programs and employers.

The hub will have a particular focus on recruiting those who don’t traditionally go into fields like advanced manufacturing or tech hobs. About 80% of workers in those industries today are men with only a small percentage who are people of color, Robinson said.

“We are not going to meet that workforce demand with a business-as-usual approach,” Robinson told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

“We have to make a bold move that really makes the opportunity feel real and creates access for people who otherwise might not see themselves in this industry,” Robinson said.

Hochul did not specify how much money she will request in the state budget to fund the initiative, or whether it would be paid for by state taxpayers.

A spokesman said the governor will provide more details about the funding in her budget proposal next week.

The new training centers would be modeled after the Northland Workforce Training Center in the Buffalo area that serves as a community anchor in an impoverished neighborhood.

Robinson, of CenterState, said his organization will look for an easily accessible location within Syracuse to house the new workforce development program, while providing some similar services in rural areas of Central New York.

CenterState would likely team up with Onondaga Community College, BOCES, the SUNY Education Opportunity Center in Syracuse and Le Moyne College to provide training services, Robinson said.

He said the goal is to create “a seamless front door for both workers and employers.”

Hochul’s proposal is part of a series of sweeping policy initiatives she wants to accomplish in this year’s legislative session and budget.

The governor’s initiatives include stopping hospitals from suing poor people over medical debt, overhauling literacy education in New York schools, a requirement for employers to offer paid medical leave during pregnancy, and an initiative to combat retail theft.

The governor also proposed spending $50 million to fight child poverty in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo as a part of a pilot program.

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