MVCC selected to lead regional ON-RAMP workforce development center

Image of people standing with NY Governor Kathy Hochul

Mohawk Valley Community College has been named one of three new sites advancing to the planning phase of the $200 million One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships (ON-RAMP) program, Governor Kathy Hochul announced yesterday.

Joining the Capital Region and Finger Lakes, MVCC will help expand a statewide network of high-impact workforce development centers. This network, anchored by the flagship location in Syracuse, aims to connect New Yorkers with career pathways in advanced manufacturing — one of the state’s fastest-growing industries. These centers will provide essential training, internships, apprenticeships, and direct job placement opportunities, leveraging New York’s leadership in attracting global companies like Micron and GlobalFoundries.

MVCC will lead the Mohawk Valley ON-RAMP center by redeveloping its soon-to-be-vacant Science and Technology building at the Utica Campus. Strategically positioned near major employers such as Danfoss, Indium, and Wolfspeed, and adjacent to the city’s high school, the center will offer:

  • Low-cost, no-cost, and work-and-learn training models for in-demand skills
  • Retention strategies to engage marginalized and underserved populations, supporting program completion
  • Employer partnerships to streamline direct job placements

MVCC will lead a consortium of six core organizations with a proven track record in workforce development. Successful programs such as MVCC’s Free FastTrack and MACNY’s Real-Life Rosies and Advanced 2 Apprenticeship programs will be housed within the new ON-RAMP center, expanding their capacity to serve more participants.

“Too many communities in Upstate New York have been left out and left behind for generations – and I'm fighting to bring them back,” Hochul said. “These new ON-RAMP centers will be critical parts of the new I-90 advanced manufacturing corridor, giving New Yorkers the skills and training necessary for a good-paying job.”

“We are so grateful to the Governor and her staff for this incredible opportunity to work even more closely with our workforce partners in the region to significantly scale opportunities that connect people to quality jobs and enhance the overall vibrancy of the communities we serve,” said MVCC President Dr. Randall VanWagoner.