Empire State Development Commissioner Hope Knight announced today that Mohawk Valley Community College has been awarded $2.3 million in state funding to expand workforce training opportunities through its FastTrack Plus initiative. This funding will allow MVCC to replicate its successful FastTrack career training model at other regional colleges, strengthening the Mohawk Valley’s workforce system.
The funding is part of the Mohawk Valley Empowers program, a three-year, $10 million initiative launched by Governor Kathy Hochul in April 2024. The grant program aims to increase workforce participation, provide wraparound support services, and redefine career readiness through a collaborative effort across six counties, nine colleges and BOCES, industry experts, and 22 nonprofit partners.
“Through the Mohawk Valley Empowers program, we are making strategic investments in programs that are tackling the unique workforce development challenges of the region to create new opportunities for more New Yorkers to succeed in the 21st century economy,” Knight said.
MVCC's FastTrack is one of 12 different workforce development projects to receive funding through the program. The grant will allow MVCC to replicate its FastTrack career program at Herkimer College, SUNY Oneonta, and Fulton-Montgomery Community College, making workforce training more accessible across the Mohawk Valley. FastTrack provides free, in-demand career training in six months or less, helping participants quickly transition into new job opportunities.
In addition, MVCC will pilot a Whole Family Education initiative to support single parents who face childcare barriers while pursuing career training. As part of this project, single parents will attend FastTrack training two evenings per week at MVCC’s Utica Campus, with dinner and childcare provided. The College also plans to enhance student support at Middle Settlement Academy by introducing them to FastTrack programming, providing hands-on workforce experience and early career exploration opportunities.
“MVCC is proud to build on the success of our FastTrack workforce development model, expanding opportunities that will have a broader impact across our region,” said MVCC President Dr. Randall VanWagoner.
The announcement highlighted the region’s ongoing workforce challenges. Since 2011, the Mohawk Valley’s workforce participation rate has remained below 60%, and 74% of the working-age population does not have a bachelor’s degree. Mohawk Valley Empowers was created to go beyond skills training, focusing on culturally sensitive, community-driven approaches to meet industry demands while helping families rise out of poverty.