Lot's of potential!

1. NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For Information Contact:
Friday, May 6th, 2005
Alice Savino, 315-793-6037
Boehlert Provides Funding to Expand Innovative High Tech
Training Program
Congressman Tours Working Solutions Utica Center
UTICA, N.Y. - U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New Hartford) today
announced that the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Herkimer,
Madison and Oneida counties would be expanding an innovative
information technology (IT)training program using funding he secured
for the WIB last year.
"As Chairman of the House Science Committee, I know that the high wage
jobs our area needs will be in new and emerging fields of science and
technology," Boehlert said. "Those jobs require a trained workforce.
That's why I fought for funding to grow our workforce by providing a
pipeline to develop a highly skilled workforce and create the right
climate for our region to grow an IT brain trust that will help attract
more employers and more jobs. Rome Lab is wellspring of innovation in
the IT sector. The more we can develop that asset, the better are
chances for creating a stronger economy that will provide high-paying,
challenging careers to attract and retain our young people."
Boehlert announced that the WIB is using a $175,000 appropriation he
secured in the 2005 federal budget to expand the National Information
Technology Apprenticeship System (NITAS) by offering expanded
apprenticeships to help students, employers, employed workers and
workers in transition. In November 2004, the WIB granted funds to the
SUNY Institute of Technology to develop the Central New York NITAS
Consortium, which connects employers and local colleges through NITAS,
an innovative new workforce development system that integrates
education, skills certification and skill validation through
a personal coaching system, resulting in a highly effective information
technology workforce.
"NITAS takes the apprenticeship model of combining education and on-

2. the-job learning to suit the needs of the IT industry for a fast-paced
skills development program that can keep up with the dynamic changes in
technology," Savino said. "What this does for our region is provide
students with on-the-job experience that documents not just what they
know, but what they can do. The NITAS model aligns training with what
employers need, focusing our resources on programs with the greatest
payoff to students, workers and employers."
Savino said expanding the project will help at least 100 apprentices.
Apprentices can be students at a local college participating in NITAS,
or information technology workers at local employers.
-More-
NITAS, which was developed by the industry association CompTIA and the
U.S. Department of Labor, is operating in only a handful of sites
throughout the nation. "Because Congressman Boehlert secured this
funding, our region will be able to have a competitive edge in growing
the workforce of tomorrow," Savino said. "NITAS is the key to building
a higher-skilled workforce based on industry-recognized skill
standards. Implementing NITAS through our college consortium will give
our region's students a tremendous competitive advantage. NITAS will
help our region's many small IT-focused employers, including those in
the emerging field of cyber-security, as well as our large
manufacturing, health care and financial services employers with major
IT needs."
Boehlert made the NITAS announcement after touring the Working
Solutions Utica One-Stop Center, and examining assistive technology
purchased with federal funds he secured for the WIB.
"People with disabilities are one of the untapped resources of our
nation," Boehlert said. "I was proud to support and work to secure the
WIB's Customized Employment Grant, because the $2.72 million it brings
into this region is developing new partnerships, greater access and new
opportunities for people with disabilities. I strongly encourage
employers who are looking for dependable workers to contact the WIB."
Contact information:
NITAS: Deborah J. Tyksinski Director, Continuing Professional Education
& Sponsored Research at SUNYIT and the regional NITAS coordinator,
315-792-7151.
Customized Grant for People With Disabilities: Judy DiCioccio,
Marketing Coordinator, Cusomized Employment Grant, 315-793-5307.
WIB: Executive Director Alice Savino, 315-793-6037
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24): Sam Marchio, Communications Director,
202-225-6655