FSC at the Forefront of NYS Offshore Wind Training Institute
January 13, 2020
In an aggressive effort to provide New Yorkers with the skills and safety training needed to work in the offshore wind industry, Farmingdale State College has joined another SUNY school to lead the $20 million Offshore Wind Training Institute.
The Institute is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Workforce Development Initiative to target emerging clean-energy industries. Training of 2,500 New Yorkers will begin in 2021, when these industries are expected to need a significant number of new, skilled employees.
“This aggressive, all-encompassing approach to workforce training will bolster New York’s groundbreaking Workforce Development Initiative by helping ensure workers have the skills they need to compete and succeed in emerging industries that are quickly developing across our state,” Governor Cuomo says. “With private sector employment at an all-time high, New York must continue to invest in its workforce, and make certain that our workers have the necessary skills to work in a rapidly-changing economy.”
“Farmingdale’s place as a hub for the Training Institute is very good news for the college and the region,” says President Nader. “The environmental and economic benefits to Long Island and the region are vital to our future. Farmingdale’s success in workforce development allow us to continue to prepare our economy for the future.”
Complimentary to Institute’s training program, the state will also invest $40 million over the next five years to train 40,000 clean-energy workers through NYSERDA. It will build partnerships with the clean energy industry to ensure that workers are not only trained, but placed in jobs through on-the-job training for new workers, supporting internships, and career pathway initiatives.
Farmingdale has partnered previously with NYSERDA who sponsored the NY Offshore Wind Technical and Training Workshop at FSC last November. The workshop set the stage for the Offshore Wind Training Institute, and brought offshore wind developers, component manufacturers, and service suppliers together to identify technology and training needs for future wind projects in the region.
President Nader, who worked closely with State and SUNY officials to bring the Institute to FSC, presented opening remarks.
