By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Considering the growth in manufacturing in Central New York, it’s little wonder that the Manufacturing Association of Central New York (MACNY) is ramping up its programming to meet the employment needs.
Membership at MACNY is growing, in particular interest in its pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.
“More women are in manufacturing with Real Life Rosies and our other apprenticeship programs,” said Randy Wolken, president and CEO at MACNY. “They’re highly subscribed. We’ve seen significant growth in our registered apprenticeships.”
He attributes that in part to the forthcoming Micron groundbreaking, since Micron will be using MACNY’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, along with other manufacturing efforts ramping up in the region.
“There’s a lot of work in this community to get ready for meaningful investments,” Wolken said. “There’s the Chobani expansion in Rome, which is a big investment. Whether biologics, semiconductors or food industry, there are so many exciting opportunities. One of the key areas is expansion of energy availability. There’s a growing desire for investment in nuclear. Energy will continue to be a growing area for an even more resilient plant growth.
“National Grid is looking for people in skilled positions. Construction trades for new housing and more infrastructure and facility construction, the building trades will see significant expansion. Career pathways and job openings will attract a lot of engineering talent. In STEM-related degree programs at all levels, you’ll continue to see a lot of growth as well.”
The biggest need of employers in manufacturing include machinists, quality control, welding, mechanical technicians and electronics technicians.
The $6.5 million in funding from the Empire State Development Office of Strategic Workforce Development will help MACNY’s direct entry pre-apprenticeship programs as part of New York’s statewide $15.5 million workforce initiative.
Launched in 2023, Real Life Rosies and Advance 2 apprenticeships help familiarize people from underrepresented communities with manufacturing careers. Targeting the Mohawk Valley initially, the program has helped more than 100 people achieve careers in manufacturing.
“The expansion of these programs marks a transformative moment for workers and industries,” said Michael Frame, executive vice president of MACNY. “By scaling to new regions, MACNY and our partners are creating pathways to high-demand careers while empowering women, people with disabilities and other historically marginalized communities.”
The additional funding will allow MACNY to offer Real Life Rosies and Advance 2 apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship training programs into more regions across the state, including New York City, Central New York Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Western New York.
The training includes advanced manufacturing, nanotechnology and clean energy. In addition to training, The Real Life Rosies program also offers services such as childcare and transportation. Working with local SUNY community colleges, the Advance 2 apprenticeship program will offer training in semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals and green energy.
“Real Life Rosies creates a supportive apprenticeship pathway for women to access good-paying careers in manufacturing,” said Katie Newcombe, chief economic development officer of Center for Economic Growth. “This direct-entry model not only provides life-changing opportunities for women, but it also enhances our diverse, trained, and growing workforce for local manufacturers. The Center for Economic Growth is excited to continue its longstanding partnership with MACNY by helping to launch and manage Real Life Rosies in the Capital Region.”
Another partner in MACNY’s expansion is Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association, which has plans for its own Rosies program and help grow the Advance 2 apprenticeship efforts in the Finger Lakes.
“These initiatives will provide registered apprenticeship opportunities with support from New York state workforce development funding,” said Bob Coyne, executive director of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association.
