New York expanding skilled workforce development with $200 million ON-RAMP program

New York’s Empire State Development (ESD) is kicking off the One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships (ON-RAMP) program, a transformative initiative aimed at bolstering workforce development. The program, backed by a $200 million investment from ESD, will create a network of four new workforce development centers in different regions of New York.

The ON-RAMP program, established under New York’s FY25 Enacted Budget, will support New York’s emergence in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing through these workforce development centers. As part of this round of ON-RAMP funding, ESD will award three applicants with up to $40 million to plan, develop, construct and execute the ON-RAMP centers.

The primary objective of ON-RAMP is to connect diverse and skilled New Yorkers to career opportunities in high-growth advanced manufacturing sectors. These centers will offer critical academic and support services that enhance success in high-skilled training programs, ultimately preparing participants for in-demand roles in industries such as semiconductors.

The flagship center will be in Syracuse, with three more centers chosen through a competitive application process. These centers will receive planning grants up to $300,000 to develop their business and implementation strategies. Some operational grants will also support costs associated with curriculum development and provide necessary renovations or expansions for training facilities.

Each center will be required to meet several core principles that align with the state’s broader strategy to enhance equitable access to training and career pathways. These include establishing accessible pathways for underrepresented populations, fostering active partnerships with industry stakeholders and creating effective career pipelines that facilitate entry-level and mid-skill workers into long-term employment. Additionally, the program will implement wraparound services to help participants overcome barriers to training, such as transportation and childcare.

Following award selections, each center is expected to achieve sustainability without ongoing financial support from the ESD within five years.

To be eligible for ON-RAMP funding, applicants need to be located within the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North County and/or Southern Tier and must represent a consortium of training providers, support service providers and industry partners that work concurrently with the main applicant through the development and execution of the project.

The application deadline for ON-RAMP centers’ planning and construction ends on Dec. 2. For information and resources on the program and how to apply, see ESD’s ON-RAMP program page.

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