O’Mara joins Corning Community College President Douglas, educators, students during visit to Machine Tool Technology facility in Horseheads (UPDATED, October 27)

Corning, N.Y., October 26—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), a member of the New York State Senate Task Force on Workforce Development, today joined Corning Community College (CCC) President Dr. Katherine P. Douglas, Associate Professor Michael Reynolds and other CCC officials and students to visit and learn more about the college’s Machine Tool Technology program and its importance to the future of regional manufacturing.

“One of my top priorities as a member of the Senate Task Force on Workforce Development is to continually identify and support locally based educational programs that can be effective in producing a highly skilled local workforce that can then be matched with regional job needs,” said O’Mara.  “I believe CCC’s Machine Tool Technology program is a perfect example of the type of locally based workforce development model and investment that the Senate should seek to encourage and expand across the board.”

"Corning Community College has been preparing members of our region's workforce for nearly 60 years," said CCC President Douglas. "Our graduates empower the region's employers to build a robust economy and make a difference in people lives."

O’Mara said that he discussed a range of issues with President Douglas, Machine Tool Technology Associate Professor Michael Reynolds and other CCC officials and students, including:

> potential ways for the college to attract more students to the program;

> the program’s success in providing graduates with an entryway into local manufacturers like Corning Incorporated, Hardinge Incorporated, Cameron Manufacturing and Design and the region’s other machining-related employers; and

> how the state can be helpful in providing assistance to attract and encourage more young people to consider careers in the field.

O’Mara said that he looks forward to sharing the input he received from Wednesday’s visit with his task force colleagues.

[UPDATE, October 27: Read and watch more from The Leader, "CCC's manufacturing breeding ground"] 

The Senate Task Force on Workforce Development was created early last year to examine the state’s existing job training programs and seek to develop new strategies to strengthen employee readiness in ways that better meet the needs of existing private-sector employers and potentially help the state and our region attract new businesses and industries.