Hochul announces grand opening of Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Troy Record

COLONIE, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced the completion and grand opening of the $30 million,167,000 square foot Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center.

The CTE Center contains new state-of-the-art labs and learning spaces and on-site daycare, 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, Hochul said. A diverse, skilled workforce is one of our states 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 Yorks workforce for generations to come.

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, Capital Region Boards of Cooperative Educational Services Senior Executive Officer Joseph P. Dragone, Pd.D. said.

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 BOCEScomponent school districts, who will be reimbursed in part by the State through BOCES Aid in the State Education Department budget.

The newly constructed BOCES Career and Technical Education Center is a vital human resource for young adults throughout the Capital Region. This state-of-the-art workforce development facility will allow students to explore their careers and interests before 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, New York State Sen. Neil Breslin commented.

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 couldnt 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 Departments 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, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy added.

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Hochul announces grand opening of Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center - Troy Record