Silver, Canestrari Announce $3.9 Million Clean Room Project Training Program at Watervliet Arsenal and Albany Nanotech

US Senators Schumer, Clinton Hail Initiative as ‘Another Sign of Arsenal’s Key Role’

Public-Private Investment Expected To Create 50 Jobs In First Year, Initiative Aimed At Enhancing Workforce Skills Needed by New Technology Facilities

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Ron Canestrari (D-Cohoes) today joined representatives of a German high-tech firm and local business leaders in announcing a $3.9 million clean-room construction and maintenance training program at the Watervliet Arsenal.

This initiative, a joint venture of the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership, Albany Nanotech and the M+W Zander Company, will be funded through public and private funds to ensure the Capital District workforce has the unique skills and equipment necessary to build and sustain high-technology research and scientific facilities in this region of New York State.

"This public and private investment is an indication that the Capital District and New York State are making progress in attracting the world's best technology companies and the good paying jobs they bring. It will provide another component of the infrastructure that is critical to hosting these advanced and highly technical industries. When an international engineering company of M+W Zander's stature invests in your community, it says that not only do you have existing business opportunities, but you also have the economic environment to produce more," said Silver.

"This is a big boost for our efforts to ensure that the Watervliet Arsenal remains the job producing entity it has been through the years. Times are changing and the funds we in the Assembly have provided are continuing to make a difference," Assemblyman Ron Canestrari said. "M+W Zander's investment will help in maintaining and growing jobs in the Capital Region."

Silver and Canestrari said the $1.95 million in state funds the Assembly is committing toward the three-year $3.9 million project will be combined with the $1.95 million from M+W Zander to establish a forward looking job-training program. This new training initiative is expected to provide 120 trade union members per year with the skills necessary to meet the area's immediate need for personnel to construct and maintain clean-room facilities and install precision machinery. The IBEW, Pipe Fitters Union and sheet metal workers will receive union scale wages while being trained at the Watervliet Arsenal and Albany Nanotech.

"We welcome M+W Zander's investment in New York State, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership as we work to further our stake in the high-tech jobs and industries of the future," said Silver, who noted that the M+W Zander Company is among the top, few firms in the world that design and construct chip fabrication plants.

"We already have about 70 people at Albany Nanotech and in the Tech Valley," says John Frank, vice president of Electronics at M+W Zander U.S. Operation. "These construction managers, engineers and trades people will help vitalize the training program. We expect to have another 50 high tech jobs by the end of 2004. Training is the key to achieving productivity gains which equates to lower costs for our clients."

"I applaud Speaker Silver's bold creativity and pioneering leadership in creating a highly competitive environment to support the specialized training needs of the trade unions in the high tech economy of the 21st Century. We look forward to working with the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership and M+W Zander to implement the vision of the Assembly of the State of New York, as advanced by Speaker Silver and Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, to ensure the availability of the best workforce in New York State for the global economy of the 21st century," said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Founding Dean of the School of NanoSciences and NanoEngineering and Executive Director of Albany Nanotech.

"This news underscores that the development of the Capital Region as a center of cutting-edge technology is well underway, and that the Arsenal site will continue to be a major asset in that development. We are very pleased that the partnership we've forged with Dr. Kaloyeros and Albany Nanotech is bearing fruit, and especially grateful to Speaker Silver for his tremendous support for our efforts to create a high-tech campus on site," Harry Robinson, chairman of the Board of the Arsenal Partnership said.

"M+W Zander's decision to come to the site confirms that we have the facilities, infrastructure and location to be a smart choice for world-class companies. The fact that a company of this caliber has chosen Watervliet is a sign of great things to come. I congratulate the Partnership for this accomplishment, and thank all of the elected officials for their efforts to make this happen," said Arsenal Commander Col. Donald Olson.

"I'm thrilled when any new company comes to help fill the void of all the jobs lost over the years. The efforts of the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership to bring new jobs through private companies to the Watervliet Arsenal site is great for the city of Watervliet and our area," said Watervliet Mayor Robert D. Carlson.

"I applaud the efforts of Speaker Silver and Assemblyman Canestrari in helping to bring M-W Zander here to the Capital Region. This is exciting news because it confirms what we have been saying for years, that the Watervliet Arsenal is a top-notch site that can boost our nation's defense and help develop Tech Valley at the same time," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

"I'm very pleased to see that the federal funds I have secured for job creation efforts at the Arsenal site are yielding results. M+W Zander's choice of Watervliet confirms our belief in the Arsenal site as an important player in the growing high-tech economy of the Capital Region. I have made preserving the Watervliet Arsenal and its critical contribution to our nation's defense a priority. Today's announcement will help me make the case that the site is an asset growing in value and essential to keep as part of our military infrastructure," U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton said.

"Today's announcement is yet another example of the economic viability of the Watervliet Arsenal in the 21st century. The Arsenal Partnership continues to be a shining example of how government and private industry can work together to create new jobs. I am deeply grateful to all involved--especially Speaker Silver and Ron Canestrari--for their continuing personal and financial commitment to grow jobs on the Arsenal campus," said Congressman Michael McNulty.

"This is an absolute boon to the Capital Region economically and a boost to our trade. A significant portion of this work is pipe and pipe-system related, and we stand ready to assist in any way we can. We fully support M+W Zander and their initiative and believe we have the talent and skills to meet this challenge," said Anthony Potenza, business manager, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #7.

The Assembly's $1.95 million investment will fund the "fit-up" phase of the project, allowing the purchase of equipment and other tools that are key to training workers in these specialized, trade-work positions. Silver explained that the Assembly commitment includes $1.2 million for improvements at the Arsenal and $750,000 for similar investments at Albany Nanotech. The project is expected to yield as many as 50 jobs in the first year.

The $1.95 million M+W Zander has committed will cover the costs of instructors, training materials and program operations over three years.