Letter to John King, Commissioner of NYS Education Department, and Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of NYS Board of Regents; Letter to Donald P. Christian, President of SUNY Board of Trustees - 3D Printing

Letter

Today, at the HVEDC Board of Directors Meeting in Kingston, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the NYS Board of Regents to include 3D printing as part of their new Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school diploma in order to get Ulster County and Hudson Valley workers ready for this emerging industry. Schumer also highlighted that SUNY New Paltz will allow local manufacturers to rent time with their 3D printing technology for their manufacturing needs, and the Senator urged that the school survey local companies in Ulster and all of the Hudson Valley that could benefit and create training programs to get those businesses using this new technology.

Schumer highlighted that 3D printing is a dynamic and revolutionary technology that has the potential to remake the manufacturing industry in the Hudson Valley, create new jobs, and spur economic development. Therefore, Schumer asked the Board of Regents to take steps to help train and qualify current high school students in 3D printing in order to create a "skills match," which will link up high school and college graduates with the available jobs in the community. Schumer also highlighted the recent $1 million investment by Ulster County Businessman Sean Eldridge and his investment fund, Hudson River Ventures and Central Hudson Gas & Electric in 3D printing technology at Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center at SUNY New Paltz as another opportunity to grow this industry in the Hudson Valley.

"Ulster County and the Hudson Valley should be a hub for 3D printing - an emerging industry with great potential for job growth. We can get ahead of the curve by training our high school students now to have the qualifications to work in this exciting new field. We can create a jobs pipeline right here in the Hudson Valley that delivers qualified graduates to the doorstep of hiring companies," said Schumer. "That's why I'm pushing hard on both ends: worker training and job growth. And, with SUNY New Paltz's Advanced Manufacturing Center renting out their printers, we can foster growth of the industry and increase demand for additive manufacturing. I am asking SUNY New Paltz to do even more by helping to identify local companies who can benefit from this technology, and urging them to reach out and create training programs to get those businesses using this new technology."

Schumer was joined by Sean Eldridge, one of the founders of the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center, Mike Oates from Hudson River Ventures, SUNY New Paltz President Don Christian, Steve Lant from Central Hudson, Larry Gottlieb and HVEDC's Board of Directors as he pushed his plan that will help make Ulster County and the Hudson Valley an industry hub, by helping to attract new 3D printing businesses who are looking to grow and hire, and by training a qualified workforce ready to fill those jobs, starting in high school. Schumer stated that to create pathways that are both rigorous and meaningful, NYSED recommends that new or alternate Regents exams be added to properly gauge student achievement within the new CTE curriculum and instruction. The CTE pathway currently includes: 1 ELA, 1 Math, 1 Science, U.S. History and Government, and 1 CTE assessment that meets the college and career ready level of rigor. The CTE pathway incorporates vocational education classes and curriculum into school programs, that could replace an elective or a core class, depending on the CTE approved substitution.

Schumer highlighted that there are several potential CTE approved substitutions for New York students to learn the skills of today's available positions. Upstate New Yorkers might obtain a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certification, a Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification, or a National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Job Ready Assessment. Schumer is asking the Board of Regents to approve a new program in 3D printing in the existing Technology CTE track, which could qualify students for an entry-level position in additive manufacturing, or set them on an advanced career path in 3D printing. Schumer argued that a 3D printing pathway under the CTE assessment program would create an avenue for Hudson Valley students to seek certification in an industry which promises job openings upon graduation for qualified workers.

In addition, Schumer applauded SUNY New Paltz for allowing local companies to rent time on their 3D printers at their Advanced Manufacturing Center, which has two major benefits. It creates a new funding stream for the Center, and it connects the research facility to applied uses of the 3D printing technology. Schumer is urging SUNY New Paltz to take that a step further, and a) survey and contact local HV companies who can use this technology b) identify trainings to get small businesses able to print new products and c) collaborate with other Hudson Valley companies to bring new products to market. For example, Schumer pointed out that local businesses like Orange County Choppers, an Orange County company made famous by "American Choppers" on the Discovery Channel, have already purchased 3D equipment but can partner with SUNY New Paltz to develop new prototypes. This printing is also useful for biotech giant Regeneron, a company that uses the technology but will have increased access and benefits from partnering with the center. Schumer hopes that the collaboration between research personnel and private companies will anchor the center as a hub of economic development in the community and help spur innovation in the 3D printing industry--which is still relatively new and has great potential.

The Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center was funded jointly by Ulster County businessman Sean Eldridge and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. In addition, Eldridge's investment fund, Hudson River Ventures, has committed up to $500,000 in capital to invest in companies looking to use 3D Printing technology to grow their business. The Center aims to prepare college students for careers in 3D printing, which works like a traditional ink-jet printer but hooked up to a computer interface. The 3D printer can translate computer files into 3D objects by progressively shaving off layers from a plastic, powdered metal, or rubber template material. 3D printing has a variety of practical applications, including: prototyping, fabrication of medical implants, metalcraft, architectural modeling, and much more. Experts predict that total sales from products and services related to additive manufacturing will reach $3.7 billion by 2015, but qualified labor is still in demand. Schumer hopes that a new pathway to a 3D printing pipeline will be an entryway for Hudson Valley students into this lucrative and promising new field.

A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to the Board of Regents and SUNY New Paltz appear below:

Dear Commissioner King and Chancellor Tisch:

I would like thank the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Board of Regents for their leadership in creating a new pathway to high school graduation for our students. This new potential option will allow our students to choose a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway to high school graduation. I am writing today to request that during the implementation of the CTE pathway you incorporate new and emerging industries that could benefit the New York economy, specifically the 3-D printing industry.

In our changing economic times, we have a responsibility to our students to provide them with every resource and opportunity that is available. As technology continues to evolve, New York has a unique chance to be at the center of emerging industries. The 3-D printing industry has the potential to not only revolutionize how we obtain consumer goods, but also to provide countless high paying jobs and careers for New Yorkers. 3-D printing is essentially a machine that can turn a blueprint into a physical object. The technology creates a three dimensional object by creating it layer by successive layer, until the entire object is complete. Our workforce and education system can benefit by partnering with this industry and higher education institutions like the State University of New York (SUNY) colleges to create a consortium that fosters this education and training.

As NYSED works with the Technical Assistance Center of New York to create best practices and high quality CTE programs, I hope that 3-D printing will be included as an approved technology program. New York State has proven it's a leader in modernizing our education system and moving towards full implementation of College and Career Readiness standards and curriculum. As we continue to do this, a CTE diploma with program options in the field of 3-D printing will continue to build the pipeline from school to career. This will not only excite and motivate our students to continue with their education and graduate from high school, but with these consortia in place they can attend a partner institution of higher education and have the potential of getting a job in a high tech field. These are the opportunities and jobs that New York needs.

I firmly believe that new pathways to successful high school graduation are essential for our students and for U.S. competitiveness. The 3-D printing industry represents a growing industry with endless potential to educate students in new technologies and employ workers in new fields. Thank you for all that you do to educate New York's over 7 million students. I am happy to work with you or your staff on any federal issue to advance this new endeavor. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Dear President Christian,

I would like to thank you for your years of hard work and dedication to SUNY New Paltz and its students. Your work has helped this institution become a first class academic center that has the potential to help transform the Hudson Valley. I am writing to request that you utilize the Advanced Manufacturing Center and its resources in the field of 3D printing to partner with local businesses and make the Center a community hub for business collaboration and growth.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center is not only training college students for careers in advanced manufacturing but they are at the center of linking students to the jobs and skills of the future. The 3D printing industry has the potential to not only revolutionize how we obtain consumer goods, but also to provide countless high paying jobs and careers for New Yorkers. As you know, 3D printing is essentially a machine that can turn a blueprint into a physical object. The technology creates a three dimensional object by creating it layer by successive layer, until the entire object is complete. Our workforce, education system and local businesses and economy can benefit by partnering with this industry to create a consortium that fosters this education and training. This is what is beginning to happen at SUNY New Paltz and I hope that this can be expanded so local companies can also reap the benefits.

I would like to praise you and the Advanced Manufacturing Center for opening your doors to local businesses who want to use your 3D printers for commercial products. This is the perfect partnership: renting out the printers creates a new, reliable funding stream for the Manufacturing Center and provides access to this invaluable technology to local businesses. These businesses would not necessarily be able to afford a 3D printer on their own but through this endeavor can have access to an invaluable resource that will make them that much more competitive in their marketplace.

I recommend that the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center should do three things to help jump-start this partnership even further with local businesses:

1. They should identify and reach out to local Hudson Valley companies that could benefit from the use of their 3D printers;

2. They should set up training sessions to help small businesses who want to use this technology, but don't have the expertise on staff to get it done;

3. They should collaborate with other Hudson Valley companies who are closer to a breakthrough, and by assisting in prototyping or design, help them bring new products to market.

These services would mean that small businesses would not be priced out, whether by cost or expertise, from taking advantage of this technology which could help them grow their business or create a new product. The ability to match up employers with skilled workers and private companies with public research technologies are links that, if we build them early-on, can pay huge dividends for the Hudson Valley down the road.

With all these parts working together, I believe the Hudson Valley could have an extremely bright future in 3D printing: new jobs, new technologies, and countless new commercial products. Again, thank you for all of your leadership in these efforts and for your work on behalf of students in New York. I hope we can work together on this new and exciting endeavor.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

U.S. Senator

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