Schumer: Feds should back high-tech training

MALTA — Sen. Charles Schumer says the government should be helping community colleges set up high-tech training programs to meet the demand when nanotechnology businesses expand in the next few years. Schumer was in Saratoga County last week talking about the proposed Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success Act. He says it would provide grants of up to $2.5 million to help schools establish high-tech training programs. Schumer said Hudson Valley Community College's TEC-SMART training facility is a good example of what community colleges should be doing. TEC-SMART was established last year to provide workforce training in computer chip manufacturing and clean energy technologies. Schumer said most high-tech jobs can be filled by people with two-year degrees.