Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion and grand opening of the $30 million, 167,000 square foot Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center in the Town of Colonie, Albany County. The CTE Center contains new state-of-the-art labs and learning spaces and on-site day care, replacing six deteriorating and antiquated buildings and consolidating training into one centralized location. Capital Region BOCES will offer 25 workforce training programs in eight high-demand career clusters, including health sciences, building trades and manufacturing, supporting the creation of a skilled regional workforce.
“The grand opening of this center marks an important milestone in our mission to prepare New York workers for a rapidly changing economy,” Governor Hochul said. “A diverse, skilled workforce is one of our state’s most valuable resources and it goes hand-in-hand with our ability to attract the best businesses with the best jobs. Thanks to $5 million in state funding, the CTE Center will bring state-of-the-art facilities, world-class job training, and hands-on learning to the Capital Region and continue building up New York’s workforce for generations to come.”
Capital Region Boards of Cooperative Educational Services Senior Executive Officer Joseph P. Dragone, Pd.D. said, “From cutting edge equipment to modern labs, this new facility will meet the workforce development needs of the region for decades to come by preparing thousands of students for careers in skilled trades, health care, digital media and more,”
The CTE Center has combined lab and classroom spaces to support technical training for careers in: early childhood education, culinary arts, construction trades, HVAC/R, welding and metal fabrication, manufacturing and machining technology, electrical trades, diesel technology, automotive trades technology, auto body collision repair and refinishing, video game design, digital media design, cosmetology, criminal justice, retail services, and global fashion design. The new center also includes administrative and support spaces for career counseling, work-based learning and job/apprenticeship placements. An entire floor focuses on careers in healthcare, offering five healthcare labs – two for Licensed Practical Nursing and three for Certified Nursing Assistants – plus a sterile processing lab and a general science lab.
The newly-completed CTE Center will provide state-of-the-art facilities where students can acquire the skills they need to enter the job market directly or pursue further education. The $30 million project was supported by a $5 million Empire State Development capital grant, recommended by the Capital Region Economic Development Council. The remaining project cost will be divided among the BOCES component school districts, who will be reimbursed in part by the State through BOCES Aid in the State Education Department budget.
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Capital Region BOCES has a proud history of teaching career building skills in a large range of industries – from traditional trades to licensed professions, to college level courses, that are essential to the economic ecosystem of the region. The new Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center will build and expand on that foundation and ensure their students acquire essential skill sets for in demand occupations that require technical education.”
Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Governor Hochul’s historic investment in workforce development is creating unprecedented training opportunities for New Yorkers statewide. The new Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center is a key learning hub that will give New Yorkers the skills they need to be successful while also fueling essential workforce pipelines that will support businesses across New York State.”
State Senator Neil Breslin said, “The newly constructed BOCES Career and Technical Education Center is a vital human resource for young adults throughout the Capital Region. Thisstate of the art workforce development facility will allow students to explore their careers and interestsbefore entering college, technical school, or the workforce. It is so important to encourage young people to explore their passions and gain hands on experience, so that they may turn those passions and interests into successful careers. An investment in students is an investment in our future, and I am thrilled about the new opportunities this will bring to the students in our community.”
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “The lingering impacts of the pandemic have left us with a rapidly evolving job market and workforce, all while the Capital District steadily becomes a national hub of the renewable energy, technology and semiconductor industries. The timing of this CTE Center couldn’t be better, as our residents will be able to gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers of the present and the future, which will also support our continued economic development. Capital Region BOCES has been a steadfast partner to Albany County, including through our Probation Department’s GED program, and this new facility is the latest example of their commitment to our community. I commend Governor Hochul for this investment that will only pay dividends.”
Town of Colonie Supervisor Peter G. Crummey said, “As Capital Region BOCES has stayed committed to the Town of Colonie with this new state of the art CTE facility, we remain committed to their mission and vision for workforce development. The Town looks forward to continuing to partner with Capital Region BOCES to meet the universal challenge of finding, educating and supporting a skilled workforce,”
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency ( www.esd.ny.gov ). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov .
