Workforce Consortium for Emerging Technologies (Workforce Consortium) is a 501 (c) 3, not for profit intermediary organization with the mission of connecting students, educators, industry partners and community members to enhance the quality of education in ways that will support building a global competitive workforce within emerging technologies industries sectors; alternative energy, nanotechnology, bio-technology, nano & micro electronics, etc.

The Workforce Consortium activities are, more often than not, a collaborative effort that leverages the resources and expertise of the different partners to ensure that the overall goals are met and programs is effectively delivered.

History of Tech Valley Region

The “Tech Valley Region” is geographically defined it as an 18-county region in the northeast section of New York State that spans from just south of Montreal to just north of New York City with the Capital Region of Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties at the center of region.

Over the last 100 years there has been a steady decline in the manufacturing job sector of this upstate New York region. In 1998, community, business and government leaders put forth a concerted, aggressive economic development effort to actively promote, pursue, recruit and support emerging technology industries such as nanotechnology, alternative energy, information technology, bio-technology, micro-electronics, etc. in the hopes of transforming the region into an innovative technology focused economy. This effort a strategic plan that included infusing resources into the research and development infrastructure and offering financial incentive packages through the Empire Development Zone initiative that has encouraged new technology businesses to build and/or expand in the region.

Our region is seeing some real signs of a turn around as the Tech Valley Region’s industry landscape is evolving into an innovative, technology driven advanced manufacturing economy with an intensive research and development infrastructure as the backbone. This shift within the economic structure has placed a greater emphasis on the developing and strengthening the regional workforce with the educational background and updated workforce skills. The Workforce Consortium for Emerging Technologies has been in the forefront of addressing the workforce development needs of the region. Over the last two years, the Workforce Consortium for Emerging Technologies has partnered with many regional and national distinguished organizations to bring relevant activities to educators.

Check out the Programs to learn more about what has been accomplished.