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Tech Valley News
CEG, GlobalFoundries Launch Initiative
The Center for Economic Growth announced plans for a new regional workforce development initiative last night at its Annual Meeting held at Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center on the campus of RPI in Troy. The initiative was spearheaded by GLOBALFOUNDRIES, and CEG will serve a lead role to coordinate and manage project planning, support, development and implementation.
The effort to create and execute an innovative workforce development program has broad-based support from the region’s business, non-profit community, government and education sectors, including IBM, the Chief Executives Network for Manufacturing, and leaders from local schools, colleges and universities, and public and private workforce development-focused organizations. The primary goal for the initiative is to bring together key regional stakeholders to inventory existing community workforce development resources, identify ways to enhance successful models, and to create new, innovative approaches to effectively and efficiently increase the technology workforce pipeline.
According to F. Michael Tucker, CEG president and CEO, the sharpened focus on workforce development is essential to meet the near-and long-term needs of the region’s growing technology sector.
“Helping lead the effort to develop a 21st century workforce directly supports our economic development mission,” Tucker said. “Without question, to compete in the global marketplace, a world-class skilled workforce is essential to drive industry attraction and smart growth. The investments made in this region by some of the most respected and accomplished global companies are proof positive that Tech Valley is indeed the place where the world’s best comes to innovate and grow. This initiative will ensure we rise to the occasion and deliver on this Region’s workforce opportunity.”
The new workforce initiative is in response to the growing focus and investment in this region by GLOBALFOUNDRIES and other companies and organizations. In July, GLOBALFOUNDRIES broke ground on the construction of Fab 2, the company’s new 300mm semiconductor manufacturing facility at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Saratoga County, NY. When fully operational, the fab is expected to create approximately 1,400 new technology jobs. The majority of these new jobs will be wafer fab and maintenance technicians, a specialized and highly skilled career field. Many of the qualified candidates for these new positions are expected to come from the area’s innovative education programs, such as Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART campus currently under construction in Malta, New York.
“Upstate NY has worked hard over the last decade to build the right foundation to attract new investments from companies like GLOBALFOUNDRIES and this region is truly the talk of our industry right now. As we develop our Fab 2 project and as other companies and organizations look to build and grow in this region, we need to build on this region’s assets and develop new and innovative ways to attract and develop the best and brightest workforce capable of competing on a global scale. Working with our partners in government, education and industry, we have an opportunity to build on the region’s great work and best practices. We hope to inspire kids with a renewed focus on STEM subjects and an emphasis on the ‘soft skills’ necessary for success in the new global economy. Our goal is to create greater access to college education, while fully developing and utilizing all of our assets including BOCES and our community college system. We can and should be a model for the rest of the country. We feel that CEG is uniquely qualified to facilitate this important initiative”, said Norm Armour, vice president and general manager of Fab 2, GLOBALFOUNDRIES.
R. Mark Sullivan, president of the College of St. Rose and CEG chairman, believes CEG is well suited to engage and involve the diverse range of regional stakeholders required to develop and drive the workforce initiative.
“CEG is the right organization to communicate, coordinate and collaborate with all partners to address the regional workforce need,” Sullivan said.
To develop the regional plan and implementation strategy, the initiative will include a wide range of regional educational institutions, business groups and public and non-profit organizations, including K-12 schools, BOCES, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), chambers of commerce, and others.
As part of its role as facilitator, CEG will work with regional leaders and stakeholders to define the initiative’s structure, goals and objectives as well as to identify curricula and other resource needs. To date, CEG has initiated conversations with many key stakeholders, and is developing a comprehensive coalition of regional organizations to support the effort. To gather input and develop project plans, CEG will convene a workforce development kick-off conference in early 2010.
“Workforce development is a critical part of the infrastructure of a community that is interested in attracting high tech talent,” said Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research.
Andrew J. Matonak, president of Hudson Valley Community College noted, “The ability of new industries to thrive depends on workers with the knowledge and the know-how to contribute in those fields. Through innovative programs we can bring together education, infrastructure and research to prepare people for new technology jobs like those being created by GlobalFoundries.”
Schenectady County Community College President Quintin B. Bullock added, “The College looks forward to working in collaboration with CEG and regional partners to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the region’s workforce gaps and demands. These are exciting times, indeed for the region.”
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