SU, MVCC awarded $1.3M in federal funding to expand clean-energy workforce training

Syracuse University and Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) will use a total of $1.3 million in federal funding to expand workforce-training programs for students entering the clean-energy workforce.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Tuesday. It’s funding Schumer secured in the Infrastructure & Jobs Law, his office said.

“Syracuse University and MVCC are being recognized and rewarded as leaders for their growing clean energy workforce training programs, and now new [federal] funding through our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law will help power the next generation of students to get the skills they need to secure these highly in-demand careers in Upstate NY,” Schumer said in a news release. “This $1.3 million will help our students get the hands-on, real-world training they need to succeed in careers from HVAC to advanced engineering.

Schumer further explained that the investment will bring Syracuse University into an “exclusive” cohort of only 10 Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC) in America with $900,000 in funding to grow their clean-energy jobs programs.

It also means $440,000 for MVCC as the newest addition to the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) program to help expand the school’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and advanced-manufacturing programs.

“I am grateful that Senate Majority Leader Schumer recognizes the value in programs that leverage Syracuse University’s intellectual capacity to address societal needs and global challenges,” Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation at Syracuse University, said in the release. “We at Syracuse University are going well beyond the traditional classroom education to provide our students with relevant experiences and training that can solve some of the most important environmental problems of our day. This kind of federal funding is an investment in the future, and the education and training it supports will pay back dividends in terms of a healthier community and climate.”

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Schumer for championing investment in both physical and human infrastructure. Through the Mohawk Valley Industrial Assessment Center, we are confident this funding will drive Upstate NY towards a sustainable future, generating clean energy jobs and tackling workforce challenges,” MVCC President Randall VanWagoner said. “This initiative underscores our dedication to innovation and community collaboration, promising a transformative influence on our students and the entire region.”