New York State is strengthening its commitment to workforce development in advanced manufacturing with the selection of the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, and Mohawk Valley for the $200 million One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships (ON-RAMP) program. These regions join Central New York, home to the program’s flagship center in Syracuse, in establishing a statewide network of high-impact workforce training centers to connect New Yorkers with careers in high-growth industries.
Each new ON-RAMP center will receive up to $300,000 in planning grants to develop detailed roadmaps for implementation, with up to $40 million in funding available per site upon completion of a business plan. The centers will be modeled after the Northland Workforce Development Training Center in Buffalo, which successfully removes barriers such as transportation, childcare, and affordability to ensure more individuals can access and complete technical training programs.
In the Capital Region, the Center for Economic Growth will lead efforts to transform a former College of Saint Rose building into a training hub, supported by industry leaders like GlobalFoundries, Plug Power, and General Electric. Monroe Community College and RochesterWorks will establish the Finger Lakes center at Monroe Community College’s downtown Rochester campus, providing training in semiconductor development, robotics, and clean energy manufacturing. Meanwhile, Mohawk Valley Community College will repurpose its Science and Technology building in Utica, integrating employer-driven programs to support direct job placement.
With regional manufacturing employment at historic highs and major industry investments, these centers will play a vital role in equipping New Yorkers with the skills needed for advanced manufacturing careers, reinforcing the state’s position as a national leader in semiconductor and clean energy industries.
