FLYAP Celebrates 2023 ‘Signing Day’ for Dozens of Monroe County Students

Rochester – The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) held its annual “Signing Day” ceremony at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center (FWD Center) at Monroe Community College’s (MCC) Downtown Campus on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.  More than 60 students from the city of Rochester and Monroe County signed up for job shadows and paid co-ops at nearly 30 advanced manufacturing companies. FLYAP is a program of the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) and MCC.

“FLYAP is a one-of-a-kind career exploration program which provides students across the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region the opportunity to explore and begin a career in advanced manufacturing while still in high school,” said RTMA Director of Workforce Development, Rich Turner. “We are connecting students to local companies offering great career opportunities. Events like ‘Signing Day’ are a great way to celebrate our students, families, educators and businesses as we celebrate one of our region’s largest industries.”

“MCC is focused on strengthening the talent pipeline to ensure a robust workforce across the Finger Lakes region. We are proud of our partnership with the RTMA that helps us just do that,” said MCC President DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna, Ph.D. “Over the past four years, the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program students have enrolled in 350 MCC dual-enrollment classes and to date we have matched over 325 students with employers. Today’s celebration marks our commitment to connecting students with living-wage careers and bolstering our regional economy.”

The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program is the first of its kind in New York State. High school juniors and seniors from several schools, including Monroe One BOCES, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES, Edison Career and Technology High School and East High School, are taking advantage of unique job shadows and paid co-ops in several advanced manufacturing trades.

“Rochester is blessed with a plethora of advanced manufacturing companies who are carrying on our legacy as a city of innovation and providing outstanding job opportunities for city residents,” added Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans.  “Thanks to the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, we are connecting our young people with companies who are seeking skilled workers in cutting edge fields. We recognize how successful partnerships like those we have with FLYAP are helping our community grow and thrive. I’d like to thank the students, families, educators and businesses who make this program possible.”

“Programs like FLYAP are essential workforce solutions that ensure a robust economic future for our community by mentoring young people so they can develop manufacturing skills and then connecting them to existing career opportunities,” added Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello. “In Monroe County, we are proud to support public and private efforts to train our workforce for the jobs of today and the future – because we all know a good paying job is a pathway to prosperity.”

The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program partners with every BOCES and Career and Technical Education high school throughout the city and Rochester and Monroe County. The program expanded to include several public schools, charter schools and homeschool students. In addition to the Monroe County students, dozens more students in the surrounding counties have also signed up for youth apprenticeships.

Now in its fourth year, FLYAP has registered more than 400 high school students at more than 125 local businesses. In addition to the students’ work experiences, most are eligible for Dual Enrollment classes at MCC courtesy of a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. To date, participants have taken more than 350 college classes at no charge.