BioPartners Emergent Worker Training Program From Vision to Reality
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Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, joined by North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman attended the inaugural graduation ceremony today of the BioPartners Emergent Worker Training Program, a program born out of the County Executive’s vision for industry and government working together to promote the life sciences industry in Nassau County.
“The BioPartners initiative has grown from vision to reality and is something we can all take pride in, especially today’s graduates, the participants,” stated the County Executive. “We are securing Nassau County’s future by creating jobs in the biotech sector and are grateful for the public/private partnership that has made this program possible.”
Congressman Gary Ackerman sponsored BioPartners with a $252,960 earmark grant, through the Employment and Training Administration of the United States Department of Labor. The BioPartners Emergent Worker Training Program is implemented and overseen by the Nassau County Office of Economic Development, under the direction of Deputy County Executive Patrick Duggan and the Town of North Hempstead under the direction of the BioPartners’ Chair, Supervisor Jon Kaiman.
“Today’s graduates are here because of their own initiative to improve their lives and their future earning potential,” said Supervisor Jon Kaiman. “The opportunity that they have created for themselves comes from a partnership between North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Nassau County and the federal government thanks to the funding that came through the efforts of Congressman Gary Ackerman.”
"The BioPartners Emergent Worker Training Program is an extremely important program designed to prepare students for positions in Long Island's life science industries. I'm extremely pleased that these students have availed themselves to this important opportunity. I'm proud of all of them,” stated Congressman Ackerman."
The program consists of six weeks of intensive training for entry level workers in the biotech, health care and life sciences industries, and is based at Nassau Community College. Student certifications include First Aid, CPR, Fire Safety and Lab Safety. Participants this Fall were drawn from targeted communities including Hempstead, Freeport, Roosevelt, Uniondale and New Cassel. The inaugural class consists of 20 graduates ranging in age from 20-59.
Industry partners include North Shore-LIJ Core Labs, North Shore-LIJ Hospital System, Winthrop University Hospital, and Antech Diagnostics. Each has either supplied personnel to teach a class, discussed job opportunities and /or conduct interviews for current job openings. They are dedicated to hiring and providing career opportunities for successful program graduates. Additional key partners in this initiative include Nassau County Department of Social Services, Workforce Partnership Workforce Investment Board, Hempstead Works, New York State Department of Labor and the Research Foundation of SUNY Farmingdale - the Long Island Education Opportunity Center.
