News
GlobalFoundries Community Forum explores the impact on local communities, schools and business
March 23, 2011
Broadalbin - A community forum examining the impact of GlobalFoundries new chip fab plant on schools and the local economy took place from on Mar. 23, at Broadalbin-Perth High School. The free event featured a panel of education, industry and community leaders who discussed the opportunities high-tech industrial growth presents to the HFM BOCES region.
The forum panelists included: Mike Russo, Director of U.S. Governmental Relations for Global Foundries; Dr. Dustin Swanger, President, Fulton-Montgomery Community College; F. Michael Tucker, President, Center for Economic Growth; Stephen Tomlinson, Superintendent, Broadalbin-Perth Central School District; and Michael J. Reese, President, Fulton County Economic Development Corp. The program will be moderated by David Rooney, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing of the Center for Economic Growth.
The forum was hosted by the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Business Education Alliance (BEA), a coalition of schools, economic development agencies, and chambers of commerce formed to help promote and strengthen the career and job opportunities in the local communities.
"We believe that the success of GlobalFoundries is directly linked to the success of the communities in which it operates," Mr. Russo said.
HFM BOCES three-county region is poised to reap significant benefits from the development of the Hudson River corridor known as Tech Valley, particularly as hundreds of support businesses grow or move here to benefit from the chip fab boom.
GlobalFoundries computer chip fabrication plant in Malta is located less than 30 miles from HFM BOCES schools and communities. Billions of dollars being spent to build the state-of-the-art facility will result in thousands of new jobs there and with the many other technology-related companies setting up shop in the Capital Region.
According to TechAmerica's CyberCities 2010 Report, Tech Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the US for high-tech employment. GlobalFoundries $4.5 billion plant construction is currently the largest commercial capital expansion project in the country, and the company is expected to employ more than 1,600 people when fully operational.
Success magazine featured the growth of Tech Valley in a Dec. 2010 article, claiming the increased job market will enhance the area with over $300 million per year in increased payroll. Along with GlobalFoundries, General Electric has contracted to build a new, $100 million, sodium battery manufacturing facility that will create approximately 350 jobs.
The technology making all this growth possible is not just affecting careers in math and science. From restaurants and hotels to government, medicine and communications careers, 21stcentury technology has exploded and continues to change just about every imaginable career field.
Fueled by federal and corporate investment, the University at Albany, RPI and other area colleges are ramping up new degree programs and facilities to help respond to the needs of local industry.
HFM BOCES, in a collaborative partnership with Fulton-Montgomery Community College and the National Science Foundation, is introducing Engineering Technology, a new Career & Technical program, for 2011-12. The two-year program focuses instruction in current and emerging technologies with heavy emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills. Students will utilize FMCCs Center for Engineering and Technology laboratories, including the chip fabrication clean room, robotics lab, and electronics facility, and will be equipped to pursue career opportunities in civil, electrical, environmental, aerospace and mechanical engineering.
HFM BEA visits Tech Valley High School
March 15, 2011
ALBANY - Business and education leaders from Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery Counties toured Tech Valley High School on Tuesday as they looked for answers on how to develop students willing to stay in the region and who are willing to innovate.
The sixteen leaders were members of the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Business Education Alliance (BEA), which was formed to help promote and strengthen the career and job opportunities in the three counties. Their goal is to "build a bright future for all of us, with a special commitment to make a real positive difference in the lives of future generations."
While touring Tech Valley High School, the group learned about the principles and practices of the regional public school, how the school works closely with businesses and how students learn 21st Century Skills though project-based learning.
Tech Valley High School was created 2007 in partnership with Capital Region businesses that were seeking a school to educate students with the skills necessary to be ready for the demands and rigors of the modern workplace. Because of that link, students work hand-in-hand throughout the school year with business executives, researchers and others outside the education world on projects that teach them those
skills, as well as the basic education skills necessary to graduate high school.
The BEA group was also given a tour of the school by students, including junior Joe Coehlo, from Green Island, senior Molly Ennist, from Schoharie, sophomore Hunter Dimin, from Averill Park, and sophomore Megan Powers, from Berlin. While touring, the business alliance members witnessed classes in action and heard about day-to-day life in the school.
TVHS serves as an incubator of sorts attempting a new way of teaching the tools and skills necessary to succeed in 21st Century. As part of its mandate, the school shares what it learns with other educators through a number of routes, including hosting study tours throughout the year like the one attended by the HFM alliance.
Learn more about Tech Valley High School at www.techvalleyhigh.org
BEA Releases 2009-2010 Progress Report
The Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Business Education Alliance continues its efforts to enhance the educational experience of students in the region in order to provide the workforce needed for the high technology economy of the future. In its second year, the BEA launched a marketing campaign that included print, video, and a presence on the web. The BEA has begun training individual teachers on how to incorporate 21st century skills into the curricula, including project-based learning experiences.
These efforts will continue into the 2010-2011 school year. In the coming year the BEA also hopes to increase community awareness of local industry and continue its efforts to increase the graduation rates of our member schools.
Area business-education partnership changes name
FONDA – The Fulton Montgomery Education Initiative has changed its name to reflect the areas it serves. The new program will be called the Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Business and Education Alliance.
Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Superintendent James Hoffman announced the partnership's new name at the school district's Board of Education meeting Monday.
Group hopes to develop workers for local jobs
Area educators and business leaders are teaming up on a plan they've been talking about for years to educate youths for viable employment in businesses that are already here.
Greater Amsterdam School District Superintendent Thomas F. Perillo said his predecessor, Ron Limoncelli, who retired in June, has reactivated the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Business Education Alliance.
School heads eye improving graduate rates
When the New York State Department of Education announced graduation rates last week, local superintendents said the numbers didn't tell the whole story.
While the Gloversville Enlarged School District showed a drop from a 65 percent graduation rate in 2006 to 59 percent in 2007, the Mayfield Central School District showed a rise from 75 percent in 2006 to 88 percent in 2007. The lowest rate of local school districts was the Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District at 52 percent in 2007.
EDC intends to loan $500,000 next year
JOHNSTOWN – The Fulton County Economic Development Corporation has made it a goal to lend one-third of its existing $1.5 million in loan pool funding to local businesses next year, new EDC Chief Operating Officer Michael Reese said Thursday.
"We actually have a goal to loan $500,000 of that in 2009," Reese told the EDC board at its annual meeting at the Holiday Inn.
Alliance offers a viable plan
The Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Business Education Alliance is preparing to launch a marketing campaign to inform the public about the group's efforts.
The alliance is a collaboration of school districts in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, local economic development agencies, three area chambers of commerce and local businesses.
New program designed to get youths involved in area
JOHNSTOWN – Plans are under way to bring more interest to a program designed to make life more employable for area youths.
The Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Business and Education Alliance gives students the chance to get internships and a chance to work with local businesses.
EDC close to reaching goal for 2009 loans
JOHNSTOWN – The Fulton County Economic Development Corp. could reach its goal of loaning at least $500,000 to local companies this year by April 30, Chief Operating Officer Michael Reese said last week.
Reese told the EDC Board of Directors on Tuesday the EDC still has about $1.26 million to lend to companies. The EDC made it an agency goal to loan at least $500,000 in 2009.