In recognition of the important role manufacturing has in supporting economic growth and jobs in Troy and across the Capital Region, Mayor Patrick Madden has announced the launch of the first annual Troy Manufacturing Week, which began Oct. 7. The week-long effort, which coincided with National Manufacturing Day, includes visits from the mayor and business representatives to educational training facilities and local manufacturing locations across the city of Troy to highlight the important role manufacturing plays in strengthening the local, regional, and national economy, while promoting careers in industry through open house events and public engagement.
“Manufacturing has long maintained a strong connection to our city, with the iron, steel, and textile industries contributing to the Collar City’s early prosperity,” said Madden. “Like Troy, manufacturing has continued to evolve through the development of new technologies, which has fueled much of our region’s growth. Events like National Manufacturing Day and Troy Manufacturing Week provide a unique opportunity to promote the need for further investment in growing our manufacturing workforce and to celebrate local manufacturers, organizations, and companies who are at the forefront of this effort.”
Manufacturing has long maintained a strong connection to Troy, with the iron, steel, and textile industries contributing to the Collar City’s early prosperity.
“The Center for Economic Growth’s Business Growth Solutions arm has spent nearly three decades helping Capital Region manufacturers unlock their stored potential, and in Rensselaer County this potential is now gushing,” said Michael Lobsinger, director of the Center for Economic Growth’s Business Growth Solutions. “Over the last five years, the county has emerged as the second fastest-growing county in the region in terms of manufacturing job growth, and it leads the region in total annual wages growth, more than doubling to $341 million. And with strong workforce training and innovation foundations, the county’s well of potential is only deepening. Indeed, Rensselaer County has much to celebrate this Manufacturing Week.”
Over the last five years, the county has emerged as the second fastest-growing county in the region in terms of manufacturing job growth and it leads the region in total annual wages growth, more than doubling to $341 million.”—Michael Lobsinger
While the manufacturing industry represents the ninth largest economy in the world, a 2015 assessment found that nearly 2 million open skilled jobs are expected to go unfilled during the next decade, representing a significant shortage of talent available to fill these open positions. Troy Manufacturing Week is focused on highlighting the importance of education and training in developing the next generation of the nation’s manufacturing workforce through degree and certification programs available at educational institutions like Rensselaer and Hudson Valley Community College.
Mayor Patrick Madden announced the first annual Troy Manufacturing Week at the Burden Iron Works Museum on Oct. 5. He was joined by other elected officials, as well as School of Engineering Dean Shekhar Garde (at left).
“Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a vibrant hub of research and education in the area of advanced manufacturing,” said Shekhar Garde, dean of the School of Engineering. “Our state-of-the-art laboratories, cutting-edge research in multidisciplinary centers, and innovative curricula based on experiential learning position Rensselaer and the Troy region as a national leader in advanced manufacturing. We are educating graduates who are not only well-versed in time-tested manufacturing techniques, but also fluent in leading-edge micro-, nano-, and bio-manufacturing technologies. These graduates will invent technologies we haven’t imagined yet and launch new businesses that create jobs in our local, regional, and national economy. We are truly honored to participate in the inaugural launch of Troy Manufacturing Week.”
Troy Manufacturing Week will conclude with the National Manufacturing Day program hosted by Rensselaer on Friday, Oct. 14. The event, to be held at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), will feature undergraduate-led group tours through Rensselaer manufacturing facilities, including the Manufacturing Innovation Learning Lab (MILL), along with student organization exhibits with a focus on Rensselaer manufacturing initiatives. The fifth annual event, sponsored by Sikorsky Aircraft, Snap-On, and the city of Troy, features a keynote address from Ryan Patry ’00, manager of manufacturing technology for manufacturing engineering at Sikorsky Aircraft.
Rensselaer is also hosting an open house for the MILL on Oct. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Members of the public can participate in group-led tours through the facility. For information and directions, contact Sam Chiappone at chiaps@rpi.edu.