Hands-On & Homegrown: How One Upstate Bootcamp Is Rebooting Careers in Manufacturing
Let’s talk for a minute about something that doesn’t always get the limelight in Upstate New York: manufacturing. I know — when you think “Upstate” maybe you picture Adirondack forests, ski slopes, charming small towns, maple syrup, or a laid-back morning at Five Points Pub (☘️) with a stout in hand. But manufacturing? It’s still very much alive, kicking, and offering some of the most exciting career pathways right here in our region.
Enter the new, four-week intensive program launched by SUNY Oneonta’s Extended & Community Learning (ExCL) Center. Nine residents from Otsego and Delaware Counties recently crossed the finish line of the inaugural cohort, each walking away with a micro-credential, new skills, and a doorway to manufacturing jobs that are local, relevant, and ready now.
Why this matters
Here’s the deal: If you’ve been wandering around Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego counties (and you are, given your Upstate-scope includes Otsego) you’ll have seen the headlines: employers looking for help, but students and employees sometimes not sure of how to get in. What this bootcamp does is shorten that gap. It says: “Don’t wait years. Get in, get skilled, get job-ready.” In fact, participants completed 100 hours of classroom instruction, 20 hours hands-on at manufacturing sites, plus resume + mock interview prep. And after that: tours of five local manufacturing companies so you can see what’s really going on.
Real talk with real people
Take Sidney resident Jayde Trask. Not long ago she was scrolling Facebook, uncertain about her future and looking for steady work. Now? She’s talking about operating CNC machines, programming, and staying right here in her community. “The program taught me more than I expected. My goal now is to find a job where I can be my best,” she says. That’s the kind of transformation we like to highlight at What’s Upstate — local people, local change, local impact.
And then there’s the employers stepping up: Ioxus’s Co-Founder and President, Chad Hall, says this bootcamp lets them take people “from the community… give them hands-on training… help them be hired with Ioxus.” And Brooks Machine Products President Bradford Brooks adds: “I don’t believe most people realize just how many manufacturers are here in our region, or the fact that we are all seeking qualified employees.” Boom — local manufacturing awareness + jobs = good times.
What’s in the curriculum?
It’s not fluff. The bootcamp packs in:
- Technical writing, manufacturing safety, blueprint reading.
- Measuring devices, hand tools, soldering, battery assembly.
- Shop-floor math (yes, we still use math in Upstate manufacturing!).
- And real facility tours where you can see actual production lines.
And as reward for doing the work? Participants got a $1,000 stipend, transportation assistance, a laptop, job interviews, and placement support. Talk about incentivizing the leap.
Why it’s especially cool for our region
As someone who writes for Upstate, you know the drill: jobs that stay local, keep folks in the region, build community, not just the commute-out dream. This program checks those boxes. People don’t have to pack up and leave. They don’t have to gamble on job-hop-to-city. They can build here. Jayde’s quote nails it: “find a long-term career without having to move outside my community.”
Also, it reinforces the reality that manufacturing is still a thriving piece of the Upstate economy — not just something your grandpa did back in the day. With programs like this, we’re treating it like a 21st-century pathway: modern skills, local employers, upward mobility.
What you should know if you’re interested
If you live in the region, want to shift gears, or want to help younger folks see a different path — this is one to watch. SUNY Oneonta’s Workforce Partnerships page indicates this program will be offered again in Spring 2026. Reach out to the ExCL Center for details.
Also: if you’re an employer, this is a model worth mimicking. Tailored curriculum, local relevance, partner companies engaged — that’s a recipe for success.
The big “so what?” for Upstate
For What’s Upstate readers — job-seekers, career-changers, community advocates — this is your signal: the opportunities are here. The infrastructure is evolving. And you don’t have to leave to make something of yourself.
To wrap it up: if you’ve been wondering what to do next, thinking it’s too late, or skeptical that manufacturing could be “you” in 2025 — think again. With 100 hours of instruction, hands-on experience, a micro-credential, job placement support, this bootcamp makes the leap from “I’m stuck” to “I’m ready”.
So here’s your cue: maybe you’re the next Jayde. Maybe you’re the local employer that hires one of these grads and makes a stellar hire. Maybe you’re the neighbor cheering someone on.
This is Upstate. Let’s build our future — in our backyard.
Photos by SUNY Oneonta
