Hudson Valley Community College broke ground on a $14.5 million, 37,000-sq. ft. Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills (CAMS).
The new Center for advanced manufacturing skills will help fill the shortage of well-trained, skilled craftspeople and help manufacturing firms to expand, create new jobs and contribute to the ongoing economic growth of the Capital Region, the college said in a statement.
The college’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree prepares graduates for careers as CNC machinists/programmers, tool makers and industrial maintenance technicians along with technical marketing, sales, procurement and manufacturing supervisory/control jobs. The college says that it has a 100 percent job placement rate for graduates, with nearly all students securing work prior to of graduation.
CAMS will train students on the latest machine tools, equipment, tooling and software for employment with manufacturers in the Capital Region.
The college has partnered with several local construction companies to build CAMS, which was designed by Troy-based architecture firm Mosaic Associates. Contractors include: Bette & Cring Construction Group for general construction; Tri-Valley Plumbing & Heating for plumbing; John W. Danforth Co. for mechanical; T&J Electrical Associates for electrical; Comalli Group for communications cabling; and Atlantic Testing Laboratories for special inspections.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 900,000 more manufacturing jobs today than in 2010. However, the country’s manufacturing companies are struggling to hire qualified employees necessary for business and economic growth. By 2020, more than 200,000 new positions are expected for machinists and industrial maintenance technicians nationwide.
