Governor Hochul Launches Major Workforce Development Program “ON-RAMP” to Provide $200 Million Towards Job Training and Support for Careers in Rapidly Expanding Advanced[...]

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of her signature One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships program, a $200 million investment to help fund and realize a network of four new workforce development centers in strategic high impact locations in Upstate New York first announced as part of her FY25 Enacted Budget. The Centers will bring together industry, academia, social services, and community organizations to provide high quality, in demand skills training and wraparound supports necessary to empower New Yorkers with the skills they need to take on careers in high growth advanced manufacturing industries like semiconductors. Empire State Development developed and will manage the program.

"New York's economic competitiveness is the result of our extraordinary workforce, striving every day to innovate, create and push the boundaries of what is possible," Governor Hochul said. "My ON-RAMP program marshals resources to our Upstate communities to catalyze investments in manufacturing - and it's already delivering for New Yorkers with tens of thousands of new jobs in the industries of the future coming right here to our state."

Applications for regions to be selected for three additional ON-RAMP centers and receive planning grants to develop a full business and implementation plan are now open on the ESD website.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Under Governor Hochul's leadership, Empire State Development is making smart, high-impact investments designed to expand the opportunity economy to all New Yorkers. The innovative ON-RAMP program partners the needs of the growing industries that we are successfully attracting to New York with a workforce we are 'ramping up' - with skills and training - to be successful in the jobs of tomorrow."

State Senator Sean Ryan said, "New York is home to a growing advanced manufacturing industry and we must ensure that we have the workforce needed to fill these good-paying jobs. Job training for these workers will ensure New York continues to move our economy forward and keep up our efforts to attract established businesses and start-ups from around the world."

Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, "The rapid growth of New York's advanced manufacturing sector underscores the critical need to equip our Upstate workforce with the skills necessary for success. The ability to reach into previously disregarded communities by providing wraparound supports, not only increases the number of potential workers, but provides the opportunity to lift individuals out of generational poverty. I am deeply appreciative of the effort behind Governor Hochul's $200 million 'ON-RAMP' program, which will make a significant investment in job training to support these careers and strengthen our region for years to come. With Micron's arrival in the district, this focus on advanced manufacturing education is more essential than ever as we embrace the opportunities within the semiconductor industry."

Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, "I am proud to say that thanks to the advocacy and partnership of my colleagues in the Greater Rochester Majority Delegation, the Governor has identified Rochester as one of the high-impact, strategic locations for the ON-RAMP program's new workforce development training centers. As Assembly Labor Chair, I believe we must prioritize workforce development as a means to reduce poverty and uplift our families. Critically, ON-RAMP will also address barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, education and other social supports by providing wraparound services alongside job training. This is how we truly increase equity in our economy."

President and CEO of CenterState Robert Simpson said, "Governor Hochul understands that for our companies to be successful and communities to succeed, investments are needed to ensure advanced manufacturing jobs are accessible to more Central New Yorkers. The ON-RAMP program will bring job training for high-growth industries right in to our neighborhoods, meeting people where they are and ensuring that job creation translates in to more equitable prosperity in our communities."

"My ON-RAMP program marshals resources to our Upstate communities to catalyze investments in manufacturing - and it's already delivering for New Yorkers with tens of thousands of new jobs in the industries of the future coming right here to our state."

ON-RAMP will establish four new workforce development centers, including three chosen competitively, and a flagship location in Central New York, based in Syracuse. For the three competitively selected centers, ON-RAMP grant funding will cover:

• a planning grant for development of a business plan for a regional ON-RAMP center;
• a portion of operational expenses related to curriculum development and provision of trainee support services; and
• a portion of capital needs for renovations, expansions, and/or construction costs related to the delivery of advanced manufacturing training.

ON-RAMP centers are expected to be established as fully sustainable entities that will not require ongoing support from ESD within five years of a center's implementation funding.

Among other principles, each of the four regional training centers must:

• develop accessible and equitable pathways for priority populations;
• provide a curriculum and training models that reflects industry projections for advanced manufacturing job growth within the region;
• prove flexible to adapt services to meet changing industry needs and a dynamic global market;
• create career pathways for both entry-level and mid-skill workers for long-term sustainable employment;
• offer wraparound support for program participants;
• and track outcomes to help measure programmatic success.

Governor Hochul's Commitment to Growing New York's Semiconductor Industry
Governor Hochul has maintained a strong commitment to building a modern economy in New York State by growing a dynamic and innovative semiconductor industry. In 2022, the Governor signed New York's historic Green CHIPS legislation to make New York a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, creating 21st century jobs and kick-starting economic growth while maintaining important environmental protections. As part of the FY24 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $45 million investment to create the Governor's Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI), which leads statewide efforts to develop the chipmaking sector. In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced a $10 billion public-private partnership - including $9 billion in private investment from IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and other semiconductor leaders - to bring the future of advanced semiconductor research to New York's Capital region by creating the nation's first and only industry accessible, High NA EUV Lithography Center at the Albany NanoTech Complex. All of these efforts are positioning New York as an innovation leader ready to support one of three National Semiconductor Technology Center facilities that will be established under the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act.

New York is home to a robust semiconductor industry which supports more than 150 semiconductor and supply chain companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers. Thanks to Governor Hochul's efforts, the industry is continuing to grow with major investments from semiconductor businesses and supply chain companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD, Edwards Vacuum, MenloMicro and TTM Technologies to expand their presence in New York. In fact, in the last two years, chip companies have announced over $112 billion in planned capital investments in New York - more than any other state - and one in four U.S. made chips will be produced within 350 miles of Upstate New York. No other region in the country will account for a greater share of domestic production.

Semiconductors are vital to the nation's economic strength, serving as the brains of modern electronics, and enabling technologies critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness. The industry directly employs over 300,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.8 million additional domestic jobs. Semiconductors are a top five U.S. export, and the industry is the number one contributor to labor productivity, supporting improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of virtually every economic sector - from farming to manufacturing.

Contact the Governor's Press Office