On Earth Day, local elected officials and leaders, Dutchess Community College administration and graduates, as well as representatives from Central Hudson gathered at DCC’s Fishkill Campus to announce expansion for in-demand careers and celebrate regional partnership.
More specifically, Central Hudson has invested $200,000 in DCC to expand clean energy and advanced manufacturing workforce training, including a new 9,200-square-foot HVAC and building trades laboratory in the Fishkill campus, which is dubbed the Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation.
DCC President Peter Grant Jordan said the school has been an “impactful gem” in the area for nearly 70 years now, and with expansions like this, they can continue what they are here for, “…making sure that members of this community have the education and the skillsets to earn wages that allow them to live in this community and to thrive.”
Central Hudson and DCC representatives emphasized their longstanding partnership, including Central Hudson’s Executive Vice President of Strategic Development Anthony Campagiorni, who said “more than 10%” of their workforce is made up of DCC graduates.
“What we’re here for is about the people,” Campagiorni said. “We talk about skills that we need, but it’s really about quality of life. We’re very proud of the Hudson Valley for its scenic beauty, but a good quality of life, I think, first starts with a good job.”
New HVAC and building trades lab: What to expect
In the new space, students will be introduced to the “new generation of learning,” Chief of Staff and Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Susan Rogers said.
Replicating real-world environments, aligned with current industry standards and employer expectations, students will discover simulated residential settings, along with advanced diagnostic and commissioning stations, for hands-on training and practical experience.
Plus, the lab will have heat pumps, mini-split systems and high-efficiency electric equipment central to New York state’s clean energy transition.
Currently a student in the HVAC program, Jonathan Nunez, a graduate of Roy C Ketcham High School, said the “excellent program” has allowed him to “afford a trade school,” as he is funding his education himself. This has allowed him to “comfortably learn” without being hindered by tens of thousands of dollars of debt.
“We have a program that is strong and can actually teach people things, not just how to regurgitate info — actually learn, understand what they’re doing and be affordable.”
According to DCC, this is a natural extension to promote an already growing workforce pipeline, with the goal to benefit not only students, but the community and regional economy, too.
Ongoing development of the Fishkill campus
This Central Hudson funding for the HVAC and building trades lab is part of a greater 75,000-square-foot expansion DCC is working on at the CEOBII, supporting programs in Mechatronics, Automotive Technology, Cybersecurity and Construction Management.
The combination promotes DCC’s aim to be a regional leader in clean energy education and applied manufacturing.
Former First Lady Jill Biden visited the opening of DCC’s mechatronics lab in 2023. The accompanying program was funded in part by former President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
Ever since the mechatronics lab opened, it has grown and changed, but particularly in the past year, Rogers said, development of all their technical CEOBII programs “really has picked up.”
Looking ahead, Jordan said he hopes Central Hudson’s presence for DCC students, such as connecting with employees, will be an “inspiration” for other local organizations and businesses to join forces with the school.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Central Hudson invests $200K in DCC Fishkill for in-demand careers
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
