Two Olean Employers Receive Support Through The Workforce Development Institute

Senator Young Secured An Additional $3 Million in Last Year’s State Budget for WDI Program

ALBANY - Cutco Cutlery and the Olean Medical Group both are receiving support through the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), allowing them to provide updated training for employees in an effort to expand operations. The Workforce Development Institute is a non-profit organization championed by Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean) in last year’s state budget that works with employers across the state to provide focused technical training, purchasing support and other assistance to help employers and employees achieve professional and career growth right here in New York State.

WDI programs are state-supported through the annual state budget process. As part of the 2014-15 State Budget, Senator Young directly worked to secure an additional $3 million for WDI because of the important benefits the program offers to both employers looking to expand operations and employees looking to build skill-sets through on the job training.

“Providing existing local businesses with the support they need to not only maintain but also grow their operations is essential to keeping good-paying jobs in our community. Both Cutco and the Olean Medical Group serve critical roles in our community and their continued success is instrumental to the success of our region as a whole. I am pleased to hear that both employers have been able to partner with WDI in an effort to boost employees abilities and keep local residents at the forefront of their respective fields,” said Senator Catharine Young.

WDI Western New York Regional Director Mike LaBerta said, “Cutco and Olean Medical are two of the larger employers in the Olean area, and WDI is happy to partner with them to not only provide security for their existing staff, but help position them to grow in the future. The work that WDI does, not only in WNY but statewide, would not be possible without the support of Senators like Catharine Young.”

Cutco Cutlery, the Workforce Development Institute and Jamestown Community College have a collaborative public-private partnership that establishes a series of training programs for Cutco employees aimed at improving the company's competitiveness and help with the retention of existing jobs.

“Cutco Cutlery is a major manufacturer who plays an integral part in our area’s economy. Creating this public-private partnership is a tremendous way to utilize the resources of the college and Cutco to have a positive long-term impact on local residents. Improving training and increasing the company’s competitive edge will not only increase productivity but also help keep employees on the job. I am confident WDI’s partnership in this exciting program will help guide it to a successful outcome for everyone,” Senator Young continued.

“Administratively, WDI has made this such an easy process,” said Sandy Sleggs, Cutco’s Assistant Director of Human Resources. “From a training perspective, they have been very accommodating and they continue to meet our business needs as the company changes and grows.”

At the Olean Medical Group, WDI support will help the medical center in its effort to accommodate 50 providers in the next three to five years. With new coding requirements for the classification of diseases set to begin in October 2015, Olean Medical Group will be sending nearly 100 employees through WDI-funded training. With the new training, existing staff will increase their skill-set to ensure that each patient's diagnosis is recorded correctly, allowing for the best possible treatment and care.

“Providing patients, especially those in rural communities like the ones served by the Olean Medical Group, with the best medical care available is vitally important. Increasing the pool of healthcare providers will ensure that more patients are able to receive the care they need without having to travel outside of the community and will ultimately lead to residents living longer, healthier lives. This new training will allow Olean Medical Group to attract new healthcare provides to our region, who will arrive with the confidence that existing healthcare staff will already have the industry leading skills needed to provide the best possible care,” concluded Senator Young.

Daniel Strauch, Chief Executive Officer for the Olean Medical Group LLP said, “We are thrilled to have been selected to receive funding from the Workforce Development Institute. It will allow us to help our employees and providers adapt to the new diagnosis coding standards. Going from ICD-9 to ICD-10 means an increase of over 50,000 codes and the training is vital for our organization. We are grateful to the Workforce Development Institute for supporting our efforts, and we also appreciate the efforts of the staff at Jamestown Community College in pursuing this funding.”

The Workforce Development Institute has also been instrumental in supporting manufacturing jobs and career transition services for laid off employees throughout the state. With Senator Young’s support, a total of $7 million of funding was secured in last year’s State Budget to support the mission and work of WDI. This mission will remain a priority for Senator Young during the upcoming budget negotiations.

WDI is able to quickly and efficiently work with employers in need of assistance for training programs, equipment purchases, and other support services vital to growing and retaining valuable jobs. In addition, WDI strives to develop alternatives that will prevent jobs from moving out-of-state, as well as providing transition support services for those workers who have lost jobs.

For more information on the great work of WDI or to apply for funding through the program, please visit: www.wdiny.org.