What’s going to make the economy thrive even further ? The Lt. Governor saw firsthand today how Onondaga County is staying on the cutting edge… and it’s partly electric. The former wired world is becoming more wireless. Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul wants to make sure students realize the potential conduit to a career.
“You can actually translate that and say well if you like this in your spare, you can actually (have) a career where you get to use your mind and your hands but, you can also be up on the latest technology. Your friends will know about it.”
Hochul discussed how to better sell jobs in the electrical field with the Training Director of IBEW Local 43 in Clay, Jeff DeSocio. He showed her a row of electrical panels. The first was completely wired up.
“This training will run in basically those two blue boxes… will run off of an iPad. We’re trying to create an app so the students will learn how to program (and) commission it to a customer so they can have an iPad or a web-based login system where they can just touch and turn lights on and off.”
The equipment that is some of the latest cutting edge technology is only a portion of what IBEW Local 43 purchased with a $1.4 million dollar grant award. Hochul says her stop is a way to stay plugged-in.
“I learn just by showing up at these facilities. I take away messages to give to the Governor and his team about a way we need to continue focusing our priorities and that would be on the education programs like we have right here at the IBW facility. Cause every dollar that’s invested in training these young people today is gonna be paid back many times over with the taxes they’re gonna on their beautiful homes they’re going to be able to buy. They’re going to be able to educate their kids in schools. So, it’s an investment now that’s going to pay off in the future.”
The Lt. Governor also journeyed to Downtown to tour the Hotel Syracuse and also to meet with Mayor Stephanie Miner and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. Hochul is touring places like the hotel that have received State grants through the Regional Economic Development Councils to keep track of the projects. She also visted the SUNY Oswego Metro Center located in the Atrium Building on Clinton Square, Downtown.
