SUNY Corning Community College (CCC) was born out of a community need for continuing education, beginning as the Corning Painted-Post school district’s effort to extend the K-12 experience. With foundational support from Corning, Inc. and the region, CCC quickly grew and received its first Middle States accreditation in 1964. Today, this community cornerstone and top two-year college in New York serves more than 3,600 students annually.
CCC continues to be an anchor of education for the region, one which is home to numerous leaders in manufacturing, including Corning Inc., Correlle, Siemens Energy, Inc., ALSTOM Transportation, Storflex and more. Its geographic location and connection to the active industry made CCC an ideal partner for implementing a workforce training program responsive to its regional labor needs. Now, CCC hosts the Manufacturing Technology program through its Workforce Education and Community Engagement department. This program within NENY’s Workforce Development pillar provides an in-person, incentivized opportunity for those looking to upskill or find work in manufacturing in the central and western regions of New York.
Participants experience a 10-week deep-dive into the industry, with in-person, hands-on training, tours of regional manufacturers, a $1000 stipend upon completion of the program, and job interviews with employers connected to the program.
Why this program is a value add for regional employers
The proximity of CCC to employers in manufacturing makes this program an easy win-win scenario for both workers and employers.
“As a community-based organization, we want to be an accessible pipeline,” said Adam Switzer, Manufacturing Technology program manager. “Within the Southern Tier, there’s somewhere near 800 manufacturers. Each manufacturer we’ve met is looking for new workers.”
While speaking with regional employers, the CCC team often hears that there’s a big wave of workforce approaching retirement. When employers meet participants in the Manufacturing Technology program, they can see the trainees’ interest and commitment to the work ahead, seeing manufacturing as a career and place for growth.
“It definitely helps with on-boarding, and the commitment of completing the course shows they are an asset to the company,” Switzer said.
The experience is impactful because it’s practical
In the first week of the program, the group begins by visiting eight to 10 local manufacturers. Then classroom learning takes place between weeks two and nine. The curriculum is a blend of math, blueprint reading, machinery study and reverse engineering.
“Take a pen for example: Students have to study that object, dismantle it and solve the puzzle of how each element is manufactured then assembled to result in a product,” Switzer said. “In the end, they create the drawings, understand the supply chain and manufacturing process that results in that pen.”
The growth participants undergo from day one to the end is very evident to staff at CCC. Those who stay and complete the 10 weeks of training leave committed and confident in what they know.
“Having the exposure to real manufacturing equipment and environments, and learning from others in the same environment, their confidence is high walking onto the first day of a new job,” Switzer said.
The enrollment for this program continues to soar, with a job placement rate at 90%. This includes some participants who were looking to upskill and get promoted at their current employer.
“That’s another level of commitment our industry partners like to see: their current employees being invested and seeing a path for advancement. It certainly takes grit, we see participants come in for the daytime training then work second shift,” Switzer said. “It’s an intense time but the reward at the end is beaming from their faces.”
What’s next for CCC?
In addition to growing the cohort size with additional instructors, the next move for CCC is to integrate this training into stackable microcredentials.
“Creating the opportunity for these short-term programs to count towards degree programs is crucial,” said Jynks Burton, director of grants management for CCC. Burton knew of the program in a previous role with Mercury Aircraft, Inc.
“Working in human resources, I was aware of this program and appreciated that it was giving people exposure to manufacturing and the foundational skills needed for entry-level manufacturing work,” she said. “The program supports employer needs while also opening doors for those starting their careers.”
Having programs like the Manufacturing Technology training provides rural communities with access to new and advancing careers as well as an on-ramp to good-paying jobs where they live, which they might not have had access to otherwise. While CCC is located in the heart of Corning’s downtown area, its training has reached participants across five counties. This partnership with NENY is an exact demonstration of investment in place-based economic development with the people and businesses who are the fabric of the Southern Tier.
Learn more about this program and upcoming Manufacturing Technology cohorts online.