MCC's Economic and Workforce Development: Annual Impact Report, September 2013 - January 2015

New Program Areas Launched with Grant Funding

As of this year, we have 30 community colleges and over 150 industry partners. Over 3,000 participants have been served via advanced manufacturing community college certificate, degree and other training programs. We have exceeded target goals and continue to add certificate/training options. In the fall of 2014, a certificate program in machining at Onondaga Community College and a certificate in advanced manufacturing at Cayuga Community College came on board. Getting the word out about our new TAACCCT-driven programs is ongoing and recently branded SUNY TEAM. We are currently finalizing the new identity and developing the following: Marketing toolkit for use by all partner schools. Will include templates for SUNY TEAM flier, poster, postcard, direct mail, business cards, and a roadshow. Website. Regional TAACCCT Summit Veterans recruitment presentation and a marketing best practices presentation.

The TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING (TAACCCT) grant program has been of much benefit to our college, our students, our curricula and the workplace. These government monies have driven many of the changes and additions we have made to our certificate and degree programs. TAACCCT funds multi-year grants for innovative programming to eligible institutions. The mission of the grant is to develop training for high-demand occupations that can be completed in two years or less. The target student population are those covered by the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program, specifically workers who have lost their jobs or are threatened with job loss as a result of foreign trade, and veterans.

An Advanced Manufacturing Program Success Story

Nelson Clark, a veteran Army paratrooper, graduated in May 2014 from MCC with an associate degree and certificate in Precision Machining – Optical Fabrication. He is currently employed at Optimax Systems in Ontario, NY. The MCC Precision Machining programs detail the latest precision equipment and green technologies available in the field today. A point Nelson capitalized on as he searched for a job using resources available at the MCC

Applied Technologies Center. Nelson’s job search ended before he even graduated. Optimax Systems hired him while he was still a student. He began working immediately upon graduation. Optimax Systems, a leading company in its field, designs and manufactures precision custom optical components for aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics. Nelson’s starting wage was $15 an hour, his yearly salary, $31,000.