Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) will receive $137,500 in funding from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will be used to support the Expanding Career and Technical Education: Welding Project, which will provide welding training for 46 veterans, high school students and adults.
“This much-needed funding will allow the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES to develop a program that will train veterans, adult-learners and high school students in welding, a field for which there are jobs but too few qualified professionals,” said Senator Schumer. “This program will help train Otsego and Catskill residents in this field, which will pave the way to good-paying jobs in a high-demand field for Upstate New Yorkers. This program is an investment in jobs and in the regional economy as a whole.”
“This welding job training program will help give our veterans and young adults the skills they need to land good-paying jobs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Providing this program for veterans and students will help them reach their full potential and go as far as their own hard work will take them.”
“The Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES is excited to learn of the Appalachian Regional Commission grant award in the amount of $137,500.00,” said Joseph D. Booan, Jr., Director of Student Programs, ONC BOCES. “This grant will support the development of a Welding program at the Northern Catskills Occupational Center, located in Grand Gorge, NY. On behalf of students, local school districts, and the community, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, NYS Senator Jim Seward and the many businesses for their support of ONC BOCES in securing this generous grant.”
The federal funding for the Expanding Career and Technical Education: Welding Project, will be used to purchase equipment, supplies and provide staff training for the program. Once students have completed the program, they are eligible to test for the American Petroleum Institute 1104 welding certificate, which will help them qualify for quality welding jobs.