(Front Row) Erik Kesler, Joseph DePalma, Zaric Boyce, Joseph Abrams, Brayden Hickey & Greg Burgess (Provided photo)
Press release
Seven participants participated in one-of-a-kind advanced manufacturing training program
Batavia – Seven participants graduated today from the second annual Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia. Incumbent workers and students participated in the six-week advanced manufacturing training program in which they attended class in the morning and worked afternoons at several local manufacturing companies.
The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program was designed to assist companies with recruitment and training. There are hundreds of immediate job opportunities in the region, including food and beverage manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and service technician sectors.
“Thanks to the partnerships created in the Genesee Valley, this program is able to train workers of all skill levels for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing,” said RTMA Executive Director Bob Coyne. “The combination of classroom and on-the-job training is second-to-none and continues to grow every year.”
The program trains students in a wide variety of mechatronic simulation settings to prepare them for in-demand careers throughout the region. Along with the in-class instruction, the students also received paid, on-the-job training and an opportunity for full-time employment with local employers.
“The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program allows students to have hands-on skills training while strengthening the workforce at no cost to students,” added Jon Sanfratello, Director of Instructional Program for Genesee Valley BOCES. “This outstanding training program creates a career pathway opportunity that helps fill a workforce employment need. This type of hands-on skills training is a great example of supporting GLOW regional students and incumbent employees while supporting the needs of companies in this community.”
“The BEST Center at GCC is proud to be a workforce partner in support of this outstanding training program,” added BEST Center Director John McGowan. “This type of hands-on skills training is a great example of supporting GLOW regional students and incumbent employees to strengthen workforce skills, while creating vocational career pathway opportunities and filling a workforce employment need.”
Training was provided at no cost to the students and companies due to grants secured by Genesee Community College, Genesee Economic Development Council and the Workforce Development Institute. Participating employers for the 2022 program include Arctic Refrigeration, Bonduelle, Darien Lake, Georgia Pacific, O-AT-KA Milk Products, Tambe Electric and Upstate Niagara Cooperative.
“Thanks to partnerships between our workforce training providers and employers, opportunities like the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program are creating a fast and successful path for more and more of our talented young people to join rewarding, growing careers in mechatronics,” added GCEDC Vice President of Business and Workforce Development, Chris Suozzi.
The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program is primarily funded through the SUNY Reimagine Workforce Preparation Training Program and is supported by the Genesee Valley BOCES, Rochester Technology Manufacturers Association, Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, GCC, Genesee County Economic Development Center, GLOW Workforce Development Board and Workforce Development Institute.