On May 25, business, education and elected officials convened for a
panel on topics relating to attracting and growing advanced manufacturing at the Hudson Valley Community College TEC SMART facility. Hosted by GlobalFoundries, the panelists spoke to the need for the US economy to invest in high-tech manufacturing and the role that state and local governments play in policy development .
“GlobalFoundries has been a key driver in helping bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.,” said CEO Ajit Manocha. “But none of that is possible without innovative public-private partnerships that support new advanced manufacturing operations like our leading-edge Fab 8 plant.”
In the three years since initial groundbreaking, GlobalFoundries has created more than 1,300 new direct jobs with the project, drawing on a unique and diverse talent pool in the region as well as experienced professionals from across the United States and more than 25 countries.
Johanna Duncan Poitier, Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline, represented SUNY on the panel. Of the available job opportunities with Fortune 500 companies, she said “If we have a strong, educated work force, we’ll have a strong New York and businesses will come and stay here.”
Others present on the panel included: Heather Briccetti, President, Business Council of NY; Leecia Eve, Governor Cuomo’s Deputy, Secretary for Economic Development; Ken Gabriel, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); Congressman Chris Gibson, (NY-20); Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-21); and Brian Toohey, President, US Semiconductor Industry Association.
The discussion on infrastructure needs of companies and the need for a focused curriculum in high schools and colleges was moderated by Shara Tibken, a Dow Jones Newswires reporter who reports on the semiconductor industry.