13 hours Ago
In traditional classrooms, students are introduced to pathways that usually lead to four-year degrees or professional opportunities in law, medicine and other fields. These avenues lead to careers that are in abundance. Chris Suozzi is the executive vice president of business and workforce development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
A new pathway in Genesee County and the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties) region opens opportunities for those who may want to pursue debt-free and good paying careers immediately after graduating from high school. Through apprenticeships, our youth can be trained and employers can develop their future workforces. Those in apprenticeships are often paid while also receiving instruction.
Skills gained through these programs are tailored for positions such as welders, maintenance mechanics, CNC machinists, pipefitters, electromechanical technicians, and more. The onshoring of semiconductor production and the manufacturing sector rebounding throughout the United States is resulting in hands-on skilled careers being back in demand. and youth apprenticeships are an expediated pathway to taking advantage of these opportunities.
Through the Genesee Valley BOCES, the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship and Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp, we are providing employers with an efficient and cost-effective solution to the process of onboarding new skilled workers. The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship matches participants with local companies in the food processing, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades in which students in 11th grade participate in job-shadowing at area companies with the next step in 12th grade resulting in paid internships. The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp is a six-week training program.
Participants receive paid, on-the-job training through registered apprenticeship opportunities at Genesee County employers. Both programs feature instruction on equipment that simulates machinery that is utilized in the workplace. While being equipped with the necessary skills, students also earn training hours that are applied to apprenticeship coursework.
These programs have established a pipeline for hiring students upon their graduation from each program. Participating employers have included agricultural machinery manufacturer Oxbo, food processor Nortera, food manufacturer Craft Cannery, and others. And thanks to the workforce candidates that have come out of these programs, companies continue to grow and expand their workforces and invest in their facilities generating a positive economic impact.
Different pathways suit different individuals. If college is not the right fit, then it is our duty to equip students with a certificate, skill or trade that will elevate them to a career. We should be proud that our efforts are developing the next generation of skilled workers through apprenticeship programs that are building the pipeline for the growing private sector across our region.
Chris Suozzi is the executive vice president of business and workforce development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!.
