SUNY Niagara wins $862,000 National Science Foundation Grant to expand tech teaching

SUNY Niagara Press Release

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded SUNY Niagara $862,062 to upgrade its industrial arts technology facilities. The college received this funding as the result of a nationally competitive grant process. It will support a project titled “Advanced Manufacturing Program Modernization to Better Prepare Future Technicians,” which will run through August 2028.

SUNY Niagara’s project was among the first in the country to be funded through the NSF’s competitive Advanced Technology Education program. College officials said this underscores the strength of SUNY Niagara’s proposal and the significance of its goals.

“At SUNY Niagara, this grant is an investment in our students and our community,” said Dr. Maher Ghalayini, vice president for academic affairs. “The students we prepare will strengthen infrastructure, drive manufacturing, and power industries that keep our region moving forward. We are committed to equipping them with the skills and training needed to meet the growing demand for a highly skilled workforce in Western New York and beyond.”

According to the New York State Department of Labor’s long-term occupational projections, regional demand for engineers, technicians, millwrights, machine operators, and other skilled workers in industrial and mechanical fields is projected to grow between 18.4% and 33.5% through 2030.

Building on the college’s success with welding and metal fabrication enhancements, the new initiative will upgrade equipment and provide faculty training. The college also will update its curriculum, creating stackable micro-credentials in machining that allow students to develop marketable skills quickly.

The college will expand its pipeline by partnering with all 10 Niagara County school districts. Each will each receive funding throughout the project to support hands-on programs such as “Tech Wars,” the annual event that draws hundreds of high school students to SUNY Niagara’s campus where they compete in contests such as mini-golf hole design.

Advanced Manufacturing Program Modernization to Better Prepare Future Technicians has strong industry backing. Several Niagara County-based partners – Nuclear Alloys Corp., Integrity Machining & Fabrication, Voss Manufacturing, Stavatti Aerospace Ltd., Mahle Behr USA Inc., and Contracts Unlimited Inc. – have committed to the project, as have Hohl Industrial Services in Tonawanda and the New York Power Authority.

“This initiative is about investing in our own people,” said Braidy Barnes, coordinator of SUNY Niagara’s mechanical technology program. “We’re bridging education and industry needs so local students gain the training they need to step confidently into well-paying, in-demand roles right here in our region.”