Keynote Address

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council has prioritized our community’s need for skilled labor as an important ingredient in economic development.  A proposal for state funding is being drafted.  It will enhance career pathway capability, apprenticeships and internship work opportunities for secondary and community college students.  The purpose is to address the unmet demand for skilled workers.  In the proposal’s plan, each student is prepared for a job and/or college with a career as an objective.  The successful outcome of this proposal will result in advancing regional economic development. 

This proposal is focused on advanced manufacturing, health care, and building trades.  It identifies a program which will be delivered under five categories.  The first is Inspire.  This objective involves exposing students to middle skill occupations, salaries, and demand.  The second is Job Readiness.  This involves the student meeting basic certified technical exams, along with a high level of attendance in school, and a minimum grade point average.  The third is Work and Apprenticeships.  This requires a development of a system for recruitment, selection and placement into middle skill apprenticeships.  The fourth is Secondary Degree and/or Certification.  This objective will focus on the placement of students into a middle skills certificate or secondary degree program, with extended apprenticeship work opportunities.  The fifth is Placement.  The students, upon completion of their certification or degree, will be placed in middle skills jobs. The successful implementation of this program will provide the community with an appropriate workforce, which will drive economic development.

The RTMA is a participant in this process. We are encouraged by The Finger Lake’s Regional Economic Development Council’s recognition of the importance of manufacturing to our regional economy.