Madison County training program seeks applicants

ONEIDA — The BOCES Consortium of Continuing Education (BCCE) and Working Solutions are now accepting applications for the second and final session of their free 15-week manufacturing training course open to Madison County residents.

BCCC and Working Solutions partnered this spring to design and lead an in-depth program to train unemployed residents for work in manufacturing. Nine area firms participate in the program funded through the New York State Department of Labor.

There are 25 open spaces for Madison County residents in the second session, which begins Aug. 6 and runs 12 hours per week for 15 weeks.

The first session of the course, at capacity with 25 students and a waiting list, ends later this month.

Course units include career research, basic and industrial shop math, mechanical blueprint reading, basic computer operations, and safety training. Participants also receive work-site experience through the program.

“As our company continues to grow and expand, we are continually seeking entry-level employees with good math, blueprint reading, and precision measuring abilities,” Michael Reilly, chief operating officer of Thermold Corp. in Canastota, said in a release. Thermold is a participating company.

“Programs such as this will create a labor force that is better prepared to meet the challenges required by local manufacturers, thereby enabling the manufacturers to hire Madison County residents and expand their businesses locally, Reilly said.

For more information about the program, contact Roy Augustine at the Madison County Career Center in Oneida at 363-2400.

Contact DeLore at tdelore@tmvbj.com