CEG’s Workforce Development & 21^st-Century Education Initiative aims to build a modern high-tech workforce to sustain the Capital Region’s current industries and future job growth, and to align our education delivery system with the needs of businesses throughout the region. 

This effort is consistent with CEG’s mission to attract investment to the region, grow existing companies to create jobs, and prepare the region for growth.

The initiative is a response to the entry and growth of high-tech industries in the Capital Region, including GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ new wafer fab, GE’s clean energy expansion, and the emergence of a nanotechnology cluster.  Working within the region to build a skilled workforce pipeline will provide these industries and their suppliers with the human capital needed to sustain their growth, and will ensure that the region’s residents and existing companies benefit from that growth.  A modern, quality education system is needed to supply the pipeline with globally competitive workers. 

CEG embarked on this initiative in 2009 and has since completed four grants from the New York State Department of Labor through the Greater Capital Region Workforce Investment Boards. CEG serves as a business intermediary between private industry and the WIBs, and has developed and marketed a new workforce credential to provide job seekers with a way to certify their skills for potential employers.  

CEG also designed and implemented an ongoing Technical Careers Awareness marketing campaign which includes advertising through traditional and social media channels as well as presentations at numerous events throughout our 11-county region.  (Click here to view the television ads).  These efforts target students, teachers, administrators, parents, and the unemployed and underemployed, communicating to these groups the career paths and opportunities associated with the Capital Region’s key growth-oriented industry clusters. 

CEG also works to facilitate collaboration and partnerships among businesses, K-12 schools, two- and four-year colleges, government, the non-profit sector, and other workforce development actors to improve the harmonization of training programs with the 21^st-century job market.  

In addition, CEG serves as the Capital Region STEM Hub within the Empire State STEM Learning Network, led by the State University of New York and supported by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Battelle Memorial Institute. The Hub aims to build the capacity of the Capital Region to create and institute innovative and sustainable STEM curriculum, policies, programs, platforms, and partnerships to improve the college- and career-readiness of all students.

GlobalFoundries CEO speaks on critical importance of workforce development. Click above to read entire article.

GlobalFoundries CEO addresses National Press Club on the needs of high tech companies. Click above to hear his remarks.