The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) in
collaboration with the Greater Capital Region
Workforce Investment Boards (GCR WIBs), in
partnership with Tech Valley Connections for
Education and Jobs, a joint initiative of CEG
and GlobalFoundries, introduced the first in a
series of videos highlighting local companies
that offer exciting Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics (STEM) careers
for qualified local employees.
The first video in the series features
Adirondack Studios, a manufacturer located
in Argyle. It can be viewed at http://www.techvalleyed.org, the website of the Tech Valley
Connection for Education & Jobs, at which
students, educators, parents, and businesses
can learn more about the region’s trending
career and education pathways.
The Greater Capital Region Workforce
Investment Boards is comprised of four local
workforce investment boards: the Capital Region,
Columbia-Greene, Fulton-Montgomery-
Schoharie, and Saratoga-Warren-Washington.
The Tech Valley Connection for Education
and Jobs is a 13-county regional laboratory
for trailing the most innovative practices in
education and workforce development.
Led by GlobalFoundries and the Center
for Economic Growth, the initiative is a pioneering
model for transforming our k-12 and
higher education systems to prepare students
and future employees for success, improve
education outcomes for disadvantaged groups
and ensure a competitive U.S. workforce in
the 21st century technology- and knowledge
-based economy.
In 2012 the Greater Capital Region Workforce
Investment Boards received a threeyear
grant from U.S. Department of Labor’s
Workforce Innovation Fund to address the
STEM middle skills gap in the Greater Capital
Region by supporting development of a talent
pipeline that ensures that adults, dislocated
workers, and disadvantaged youth have information
and training for STEM careers and
access to quality jobs and that employers have
access to a skilled workforce needed for their
companies’ success and economic growth.
“Addressing the STEM skill shortage in the
Greater Capital Region of New York State will
ensure that employers have access to qualified
workers by establishing a new pipeline of STEM talent that links the workforce system,
employers, educators, and emerging and returning
workers,” said Gail Breen, executive
director Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie
Counties Workforce Development Board,
Inc. “Implicit in this goal is the realization
that success for all is built on a foundation
of career pathways and life-long learning. ”
This 13-county joint initiative helps facilitate,
coordinate, and communicate best
practices between K-12 and higher education
institutions in this region and create pathways
for employees in local STEM careers.
The video series features local companies
that highlight potential employers in the
region and allow students and educators
an inside view as what local STEM jobs and
careers look like.
Mike Russo, GlobalFoundries lead in the
initiative, said “the focus of this project has
been to develop a cost effective way to efficiently
connect students and job seekers
with careers through a “virtual tour” experience.
This approach can be scaled and made
available to businesses anywhere and helps to
connect classrooms and the general public to
businesses, creating a better understanding
of career opportunities.”
“We’re excited to participate in this collaborative
initiative to strengthen regional
and institutional ties as we work together to
grow the region’s economy,” said F. Michael
Tucker, president of CEG. “Tech Valley is
home to world-class businesses and educational
programs and CEG is committed to
working with local partners to create a
competitive workforce with the skills and
education needed for jobs in the global 21st
century economy.”
CEG is an economic development organization
in New York’s Tech Valley and serves
as the Capital Region’s designated Regional
Technology Development Center (RTDC).
A private, non-profit, membership-based
organization, CEG drives economic growth
by working with partners in business, government,
and education on strategic initiatives
to grow local companies, attract new industry
and investment, and prepare communities for
future growth.
More information is available at www.ceg.org