RTMA Secures More than $75,000 in Incentive Funding for Apprenticeship Companies

Rochester – The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) announces it has recently secured more than $75,000 in funding for local manufacturing companies that offer New York State Registered Apprenticeships through the RTMA’s regional sponsorship. The RTMA is the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region sponsor for advanced manufacturing trades for Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Yates, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

“Now more than ever, it pays to partner with the RTMA for a NYS Registered Apprenticeship Program,” said Rich Turner, RTMA Director of Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Programs. “Through these exclusive incentives, tuition assistance from SUNY and the RTMA’s partners across the state, our companies are seeing an almost immediate return on investment after they start an apprenticeship program.”

Through the RTMA’s partnership with the Manufacturers Alliance Intermediary Partnership (MIAP), the Association has secured more than $30,000 from the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Improving Diversity and Equity in Apprenticeships for Manufacturing (IDEA-M) and Tooling U-SME. The IDEA-M grant promotes apprenticeships to underrepresented populations ranging from people of color, women, those with developmental disabilities, Veterans and more. RTMA signatory companies in the city of Rochester, West Henrietta and Avon received IDEA-M incentives.

Through the RTMA, MIAP also provided no-cost Tooling U-SME licenses to more than a dozen apprentices from companies in the city of Rochester, Clyde, LeRoy, Gates, Avon, Spencerport and West Henrietta in the past year. Tooling U-SME is an NYS approved related training and instruction provider.

The RTMA also secured $15,000 from the Workforce Development Institute (WDI) for an exclusive grant which provides newly registered apprentices up to $500 each for tools, educational materials, personal protective equipment and more. More than 30 local apprentices from Batavia, Williamson, Penfield, Scottsville, Spencerport, Avon, West Henrietta and the city of Rochester received this exclusive RTMA benefit. The RTMA partners annually with WDI on programs to assist apprentices and the Association’s workforce development programs.

The Association also secured $15,000 for apprenticeship companies in the Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS) from the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement (NIICA). These exclusive funds assisted with training for advanced manufacturing careers in and related to the nanotechnology and semiconductor industry. RTMA signatory companies from Victor, Scottsville, Spencerport and the city of Rochester will receive this incentive which will again be offered in 2025.

The RTMA also streamlined the process for signatory companies to receive added incentives from the State University of New York (SUNY). The Association has secured more than $16,000 in incentive funds from SUNY for manufacturing companies in the city of Rochester, Scottsville, Avon, Penfield, Spencerport, LeRoy and Gates. Companies will also receive additional funds from SUNY after their registered apprentices complete a related instruction class at either Monroe, Finger Lakes or Genesee community college.

“For nearly 80 years, the RTMA has been committed to workforce development through apprenticeship and training programs,” added Bob Coyne, RTMA Executive Director. “Registered Apprenticeship programs assist our employers and signatory companies with recruiting, training and retaining a skilled workforce. Exclusive incentives like these also allow manufacturers to grow their workforce and strengthen our local economy.”

Since the RTMA has been a regional sponsor of the New York State Registered Apprenticeship Program, it has also provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to our signatory companies and apprentices for related training and instruction, including SUNY funding for apprentices to attend school and receive debt-free education.

The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association is also working with its MIAP partners to introduce more incentives in the near future. In addition to these exclusive RTMA funds, signatory companies are also eligible for an annual Empire State Apprenticeship Tax Credit, SUNY Pre-Apprenticeship funds and more. Additionally, every NYS Registered Apprentice receives up to $8,000 from SUNY for funds towards their related training and instruction. The RTMA also offers additional assistance and scholarship programs for apprentices and signatory companies.

The RTMA also offers other workforce development programs, including free and low-cost training programs, no-cost summer pre-apprenticeship programs and outreach to the next generation of manufacturing professionals through the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program and ROC With Your Hands career exploration event. For more on the RTMA’s sponsorship of the NYS Registered Apprenticeship Program, you can visit https://www.rtma.org/apprenticeship/, email rturner@rtma.org and/or call (585) 510-6557.