FLCC adds Waterloo Community Center to local education network

Waterloo Community Center will now offer 14-week job training classes in manufacturing, residential electric, and health care.

The Waterloo Community Center at 3 Oak St. will join the Macedon Public Library, Clifton Springs Library and other sites offering Finger Lakes Community College 14-week job training classes in manufacturing, residential electric and health care in January.

FLCC began building a network of community education sites a year ago as part of a national pilot project to overcome barriers to education in rural areas, such as lack of transportation and broadband.

Classes can be taken online at home or, for those who lack broadband or computer equipment, at seven community sites across Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties.

Grant funding is available for most participants because the courses prepare people for jobs currently in high demand.

“Grant funding is key because people can use these programs to upgrade their skills without debt,” said Todd Sloane, FLCC director of workforce development.

Anyone interested in more information should attend a career training information session listed in the FLCC events calendar at events.flcc.edu or call (585) 785-1670. Details are also available online at Finger Lakes GRIT.

Three courses begin in mid-January:

Foundations in Advanced Manufacturing covers core knowledge for those entering advanced manufacturing and uses virtual reality headsets for skills training. Successful graduates receive the nationally recognized Certified Production Technician credentials in safety and quality. The class runs Jan. 13 to April 20, Monday and Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Certified Patient Care Technician course prepares students for the Level I certification exam. Successful graduates will qualify to support nurses, doctors, and other medical staff with less than a year of training. It runs Jan. 17 to April 26, Monday and Wednesday from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. or Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

The Residential Electrician course teaches electrical theory, wiring and installation techniques, and safety procedures. It prepares students to start a career as an entry-level residential electrician or electrician apprentice. The course runs Jan. 17 to April 26 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Classes are offered at the Bloomfield Central School District, Clifton Springs Library, FLCC Geneva Campus Center, Macedon Public Library, FLCC Newark Campus Center, Waterloo Community Center, and Yates County Workforce Development Office.

FLCC was one of five colleges across the country to receive funding from a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, Education Design Lab, to develop and test models for delivering education and training in small towns and villages.

GRIT is the name of the outreach project and stands for Growing Rural Infrastructure Together. The program is meant to provide training for careers that require more than high school but less than a college degree. All students will have a coach to help them complete the program and apply for jobs or promotions. Community sites often provide convenient locations and additional services that can help students succeed.