The nearly $2 million grant — part of a $15 million statewide investment in workforce development projects — will fund training programs in advanced manufacturing and clean energy technology at the college's Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation, in Fishkill. Expanding these programs will help address workforce shortages in HVAC, advanced manufacturing and electrical technology in the Hudson Valley's growing clean energy and manufacturing sectors, according to a news release from the college.
"This grant is a tremendous investment in (Dutchess Community College) and the future workforce of the mid-Hudson region," college President Peter Grant Jordan said in a statement. "With a demonstrated record of preparing and training our graduates to be career-ready at graduation, DCC is a trusted partner to both industry and individuals looking to step into high-demand jobs with family-sustaining wages."
Over the next three years, the college will use the funding to prepare approximately 630 students to enter the workforce, said Susan Rogers, vice president of institutional effectiveness and chair of the Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation's Steering Committee.
An additional 7,000 square feet will be added to the existing building, which will house state-of-the-art labs and technical spaces, including a garage outfitted with lifts where students will be able to get electric vehicle training and earn industry certifications, Rogers said. Automotive training will be a new offering for the college.
About 80% of the funding will go toward hiring additional staff, Rogers added, although an exact number of new positions has not yet been determined.
"This grant represents the next step in the Center's evolution," Rogers said. "With support from (the Office of Strategic Workforce Development), we will expand training in advanced manufacturing and clean technology careers to meet the future demands of our region and to continue providing the training our community has come to expect from DCC."
The funding builds upon the college's mechatronics lab, which opened in 2023.
"We have been working on expansion plans based on the needs of the region," Rogers said. "We've been hearing not only the need to serve our small advanced manufacturing shops, but there is also a great need in our region for things like HVAC, there is a gap in automotive technician training, and a strong need for educational programming and training around IT careers like cybersecurity and AI."
Currently, 90 students are enrolled at the Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation, which is expected to grow to 450 students by the 2029-2030 school year with the addition of more programs. This fall, the college will launch its new HVAC program and expand its electrical technology program, which will allow BOCES students to earn an electrical technology degree alongside their high school diploma.
The center provides students with a range of credential options from associate's degrees to one-year academic certificates to microcredentials, which enable students, particularly adult learners, to enter or advance their careers in a technical field, Rogers said.
"Adult learners who don't have a degree can earn one over time while earning money and learning skills," she said.
In total, Dutchess Community College is leveraging about $100 million in SUNY and industry funding to build out the program, according to Rogers. The initiative is supported by the Council of Industry, Dutchess County and other regional partners in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and workforce development, according to the release.
Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development was established in April 2022 to ensure New Yorkers have the skills for in-demand jobs in the state's high-growth industries. The Pay for Performance Operating Grant — the type Dutchess Community College received — supports workforce training programs that provide industry-recognized credentials by covering programmatic expenses like curriculum development and wraparound services. Since the office's inception, more than $83 million has been awarded to 91 projects to support training for over 20,000 New Yorkers, according to a news release from the governor's office.
"Reshaping New York's approach to workforce training has been a pillar of my economic development strategy — and we're seeing the results," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "By working with employers in target industries, more New Yorkers are learning the skills needed for high-demand jobs, while receiving the support they need to promote greater success. These projects represent an investment in New Yorkers and the future of our state's economy."
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