Amount Requested: $750,000
Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) has taken the lead with the County of Sullivan, The Town of Fallsburg and the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development (represents private businesses), and will partner with the Center for Innovation to develop academic programs to educate and train “green collar” workers in the emerging sustainable technology industries.  This will help create job opportunities for graduates of these programs and other citizens of the Hudson Valley region by developing renewable energy business. Students will receive education and hands on experiences with high performance technologies, design principles, installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems leading to high paying jobs in the green collar/clean tech. fields.

The requested funding would be used to purchase startup equipment and supplies for the Green Building Maintenance and Management, Wind Energy, and the Geothermal Technology programs at SCCC.  The College will hire credentialed staff and faculty to teach in the programs, and expand workforce development and non-credit programs to upgrade the skills of those already in the construction and other trades.