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The Business & Industry Center (B&IC)

Throughout its history, FMCC has been active in serving the education and training needs of business, industry, and not-for-profit organizations throughout Fulton and Montgomery Counties. Since fall 1998, the Business and Industry Center has played a major role in developing workforce-development initiatives as an integral part of local economic-development efforts. 

The B&IC's mission consists of:

1.  Assisting companies, organizations, and individuals develop and maintain essential job skills through customized training programs, open-enrollment and online courses, and other services.
2.  Supporting academic (credit) programs prepare current and future workers for productive careers.
3. Collaborating with area and state economic-development organizations to bring additional industry and businesses to Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

Customized Training

The B&IC offers cost-effective and customized training programs to meet specific industry and organizational needs. A full range of training services includes program design, programs conducted at the worksite or at FMCC, needs assessment of the workforce, and evaluation of results. To help develop employees' leadership skills for the future, the B&IC can assist a company or organization with designing a continuous training path linking non-credit programs and degree and certificate programs.

The B&IC Can Offer:

1. One-on-one training. Examples: computer applications, supervisory coaching, etc.
2. Company-wide training
3. Small group, team, or department training
4. Corporate or organizational "university." We can develop and conduct regularly-scheduled training courses or programs in-house, at FMCC, or other locations. These can include academic and non-credit training courses.
5. Consortium training. Training programs where two or more companies with common training needs take courses together.

• Workforce Development Skills - supervision, leadership, managing change, team building, quality, process improvement, customer service, etc.
• Computer Applications - including Windows, Office, Internet, etc.
• Small Business Management Skills
• Technical Skills - from basic math through electronics.
• Safety and Health - from CPR/First Aid through HAZMAT. 

Training grants may be available. These may include:

1) NYS Department of Labor Grants

There may be a variety of grant programs available depending on several factors which include: the type of training desired, the industries involved, willingness to provide some amount of matching funds, willingness to increase employees' hourly wages on completion of training, and/or availability of funding. Grants may be competitive.

Information on these programs can be found at: http://www.labor.state.ny.us/

2) SUNY Workforce Development Grants for Community Colleges

These competitive grants are only awarded for non-credit, workforce-training programs that address basic skills (examples: computers, supervision, teambuilding, etc.). They are usually announced in mid- to late-June, if the NYS legislature has approved funding. Companies and organizations interested in this grant should contact the B&IC's Director of Workforce Development during the winter months to discuss eligibility. Criteria involves measurable outcomes - number of jobs created, number of jobs saved, number of employees' skills upgraded, etc. Companies and organizations are expected to provide a percentage of funds. (Companies and organizations must also provide the cost of employee training wages and travel during training.) Grant applications are generally for training programs of $10,000+. Approval notification is generally made in October. Training programs need to be completed by July of the following year. Collaboration with other businesses or organizations is a plus.

For more information:   (518) 762-4651, ext. 8103