PLATTSBURGH — Along with Norsk Titanium's planned Plattsburgh research and development facility, the company's partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute will include a workforce education program.

"A key aspect of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision for this partnership that will create hundreds of jobs is creating a curriculum to provide workforce education opportunities for people of all backgrounds, including area students," said SUNY Polytechnic Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications Steve Ference, who also serves as media adviser to the college's founding president and CEO.

The program will allow participants to learn advanced-manufacturing skills, including 3-D printing and titanium component machining, which will assist Norsk with its plans for expansion by providing a highly qualified workforce.

The workforce-development opportunities will also create "an ecosystem for the attraction of like-minded companies to the region," according to Ference.

HIRING PROCESS

Program participants will be able to apply for employment directly through Norsk, he noted, as well as through joint recruitment activities, joint interviews and job fairs.

Details, such as how many individuals the program will enroll at a time, are still being worked out, SUNY Polytechnic Vice President for Strategic Communications and Public Relations Jerry Gretzinger told the Press-Republican.

The college expects its collaboration with Norsk to foster partnerships with SUNY Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College, Ference said, and has engaged in preliminary discussions with the schools.

"A project like this is very beneficial to the North Country as a whole," SUNY Plattsburgh Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Ken Knelly told the Press-Republican. "We've connected with SUNY Polytechnic at an initial level.

"We look forward to opportunities where work such as this could connect to our students and programs."

Additionally, Clinton Community College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steve Frederick said he believes this SUNY Polytechnic project comes at a good time and will fit nicely with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing planned for his school.

Construction of the institute is underway.