Collaborative initiative prepares students for advanced manufacturing, IT, health care careers.
BRIGHTON, N.Y. – Nov. 17, 2016 – Monroe Community College has been awarded a $6 million grant through the U.S. Department of Labor to increase tuition-free education and training opportunities in high-demand fields of advanced manufacturing, information technology, and health care.
The grant is part of the America’s Promise initiative to support tuition-free programs tailored to industry-specific skills and to strengthen innovative partnerships between community colleges and other training providers.
MCC is among nine U.S. community colleges to be awarded the grant.
Through Project INSPIRE: Advancing Finger Lakes Forward, tuition-free education and job training will be delivered to 1,070 eligible participants across the Finger Lakes region in response to employers’ demand for qualified workers in manufacturing, IT and health care.
Underserved urban and rural residents, military veterans, and incumbent workers will receive middle- to high-skills training through paid apprenticeships, paid clinical internships and experiential learning.
Advanced manufacturing certificate and degree programs will be offered in certified production technician, precision tooling, optical fabrication, mechatronics and photonics. Information technology certificates will be offered for careers as network technician, mobile application developer, and cybersecurity administration. Health care certificates will target allied health fields of clinical medical assistant, phlebotomy technician, medical coding and billing, and certified nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse (CNA-LPN).
“Through this federal grant and public-private partnerships, we will make it possible for hundreds of individuals to achieve high-demand careers that provide family-sustaining wages,” said MCC President Anne M. Kress. “MCC’s collaborations with industry, employers and area community colleges are critical to closing the skills gaps and bolstering the regional economy. We are grateful to our federal delegation for their work in advancing this initiative and in support of students.”
Project INSPIRE is an initiative of the Finger Lakes United for Success Consortium–a partnership of regional SUNY community colleges, workforce development boards, employer associations, and the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
Consortium partners are MCC; Finger Lakes Community College; Genesee Community College; RochesterWorks!; Finger Lakes Works; Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming Workforce Development Board (GLOW); Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council; The Manufacturers Association (MACNY); Manufacturers Alliance of New York; Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association; Finger Lakes Advanced Manufacturers’ Enterprise; Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster; and Rochester Regional Health.