AM&T and the Workforce Development Institute (WDI)

The Workforce Development Institute (WDI) helps keep jobs and improve the lives of people across NYS by developing regional solutions for workforce, economic, and community development challenges. WDI works regionally to identify targeted strategies that address workforce development opportunities and challenges. These strategies can include partnerships, training and/or funding. WDI’s strength is their ability to identify trends, quickly fill gaps not covered by other programs, and then move successful programs throughout the state. 

Interactive Grants Program

Through a unique grants program, WDI makes investments that lead to workforce development and economic growth. This program is an “interactive” one, where WDI regional staff work directly with a business, union, or other entity to understand the issues at hand, and then help develop a response. This grants program is unique from a few perspectives:

Hands-on approach: Through direct contact with the applicant, WDI regional staff get a better sense of future growth and workforce issues.

Connections/Facilitation: If additional partners need to be brought in as part of the discussion, WDI regional staff connect with these resources and facilitate discussions.

Flexibility: WDI’s funding is flexible and can be tailored to meet the needs of the immediate problem or opportunity.

Streamlined Application Process: WDI understands that time is money… and jobs. The application process for the WDI grants program is simple and straight forward and designed to help the applicant move quickly on their plans.

Targeted Sectors 

Although WDI works in all sectors of the economy, they have a special interest in two growing sectors that hold particular promise in terms of good jobs:

Manufacturing - Across NYS, WDI sees manufacturing making a comeback. Companies are retooling/retrenching and making investments in product innovation, equipment, facilities, and the workforce. WDI believes that a healthy manufacturing base is a key driver to growth of the rest of the economy. However, the jobs associated with today’s manufacturing are very different from those of previous generations. WDI is interested in seeing these new jobs – with solid wages and career trajectories – grow in NYS.

Energy - There is growing recognition that the energy grid needs redesign and greater resiliency. Both an aging-out of the current energy workforce and a shift towards renewable and smart technologies that require new skills are complicating factors from a workforce perspective. These jobs are highly skilled and well paid, and WDI supports their continued growth.

For more information about what WDI can do for you, please contact: Jim Cunningham, 607-725-1225, jcunningham@amt-mep.org