Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that the 2014-15 budget will contain $600,000 in funding for an initiative he spearheaded for training and certification needed to enter the field of advanced manufacturing within Central New York (A.8553E).

“Businesses are struggling to find skilled workers to fill open positions in advanced manufacturing fields such as machining, metal fabrication and CNC programing,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “We need to help employers find skilled workers and struggling Central New Yorker’s find good paying job opportunities here in our communities.”

This funding will focus on what many refer to as a “middle-skills gap.” Oftentimes, positions require education beyond a high school diploma, but different training and certification than a four-year degree. Many federal and state programs provide funding to traditional higher education institutions, but there is a lack of aid for “middle-skills” education, Assemblyman Stirpe noted.

“As the economy improves, businesses, and particularly manufacturers, are facing a shortage of skilled workers," said Robert Simpson, President of The CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity. "These jobs exist throughout upstate communities. And we know all too well that too many people remain unemployed. Skills training is critical to bridging this gap and helping our manufacturers stay competitive while putting people back to work. We congratulate and thank Al Stirpe and the NYS Assembly for recognizing this need and providing the resources to accelerate training opportunities for our region's residents.”