Tonko highlights importance of new manufacturing jobs:
https://www.troyrecord.com/2022/10/1...tent=automated
From the article: "As part of highlighting National Manufacturing Week, Rep. Paul Tonko hosted a roundtable discussion with a group of local manufacturers at the University at Albany’s Emerging Technology & Entrepreneurship Complex (ETEC) Building.
During the roundtable, Tonko (D-Amsterdam) heard directly from industry leaders about the state of manufacturing in the Capital Region, as well as opportunities to develop local industry and enhance our region’s status as a manufacturing hub.
Tonko also spoke about how recently passed legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act can provide a jolt to the regional economy and provide skilled, well-paying manufacturing jobs.
“I think there’s a boost to this economy. I see New York becoming a leader in the nation. I think we’re ripe, we’re poised for the development of the semiconductor center here, which then automatically grows attention to New York, Upstate New York,” Tonko said.
Tonko additionally cited examples such as the $100 million dollar Micron plant slated for Clay, outside of Syracuse, GlobalFoundries’ commitment to creating more than 1,000 new jobs at a second facility in Malta, and IBM’s $20 billion dollar investment in Poughkeepsie.
“Already the news is impacting us with Micron developing in Upstate with GlobalFoundries here in our region expanding and IBM just to the south of us, already we’re getting that presence on the national scale,” Tonko remarked.
“If that center comes here and I think we have a hand-to-glove fit to be that location, to be the host, we have manufacturing in the hi-tech semiconductor sphere. We have research over at Nanoscience at the campus here at SUNY Albany and we have workforce development, human infrastructure training at our community colleges and specifically at Hudson Valley [Community College],” Tonko noted.
“So all of that, that trifecta of activity, research, manufacturing, workforce development makes us a hand-to-glove fit to be that host here in Upstate New York for that center and we’re gonna continue to fight and pursue in that regard,” Tonko explained.
The Congressman also noted that expansion could do to boost surrounding small businesses in the area.
“In terms of what it means to small business? Customer base. I think tax base is an important thing,” Tonko stated.
“As you grow your tax base with this infusion of expansion and job opportunities and investment in different industries, the tax base is strengthening the outcome for all of us. The consumer base is what they need, more and more customers that will eat the food or buy labels or gift soap or build construction,” Tonko explained.
“All of this is interrelated but there’s this infusion of investment that is going to turn into job creation and location of workforce, so we expect that this area will be tremendously benefitted by these recent bills,” Tonko added regarding the residual impact.
Additionally, Tonko spoke about the importance of preparing our students for these jobs of the present and future, as well as forging the next strong workforce across the state.
“Just [Tuesday] we went to review a program that Clarkson graduate school is doing with their rise program, bringing in students from high school. What we’re hearing from this panel too is we need to start earlier than that. We need to make certain we’re into the middle schools, if not elementary, to just inform and educate and insert STEM education in every level of that K through 12 cycle,” Tonko explained.
“We need to do that so that people will soul search and understand, I think education is about self-discovery. What is my passion? What are my skills? If it’s to be a plumber, then let’s encourage that. If it’s in a tech sphere, let’s encourage that. I think awareness is a big thing, letting people know what manufacturing today is all about,” Tonko continued.
“You know, people will cast [manufacturing] as some sort of dark and dingy and difficult sphere, when in fact you now have industries that are totally nuanced in how they address their everyday needs. It’s not manufacturing necessarily of old. New opportunities that young people looking to carve a path for a career need to be aware of, so they can plan accordingly and so that people around the state can be served with an outstanding workforce,” Tonko added."
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