By Terri Alessi-Miceli,
President and CEO, HIA-LI
As one of the leading business advocacy organizations on Long Island, HIALI has a steadfast commitment to support businesses and to bolster the economic infrastructure across the bi-county region, with a strategic focus on the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge (LIIPH). That’s why we recently established a new Workforce Development Task Force.
LI-IPH is a substantial contributor to our local economy and is recognized as the largest business park in the Northeast. Home to approximately 1,400 companies employing some 55,000 workers, it is, arguably, the heartbeat of the Long Island economy. Yet, like many regions nationwide, Long Island grapples with a substantial challenge: a deficit of skilled workers. This concern is not just immediate but could also impact our region’s future expansion and resilience.
To tackle this issue, we have assembled a task force aimed at aligning regional resources to meet the needs of local businesses and drive efforts to recruit and develop talent for high-demand careers. Two highly-respected individuals – Rich Humann, CEO of H2M Architects & Engineers, and Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College – will spearhead this task force. They will utilize their expertise to foster significant collaborations between businesses, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations.
We are encouraged by existing, successful initiatives such as the Solar Installer Certificate Program at Suffolk County Community College, an exemplary model of a win-win academia-business partnership. By facilitating similar partnerships, we hope to provide students with practical experience and supply businesses with access to a skilled and abundant talent pool.
In the ever-changing landscape following the Covid pandemic, anticipating future skill needs is crucial. Therefore, our task force, in partnership with the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (Suffolk IDA), will conduct a comprehensive “LI-IPH In-Demand Skills Assessment.” The execution of this project will be overseen by James Lima Planning, a renowned consulting firm based in New York City. This undertaking will be financed through a grant from the Workforce Development Institute, with supplemental funding from HIA-LI and the Suffolk IDA.
The findings will guide academic institutions in adjusting their curricula to align with the future needs of the region’s economy. Our task force’s initiative is in line with a more extensive statewide initiative: a $350-million program announced last year by Governor Kathy Hochul to enhance worker skills in accordance with job market needs. This broader program is an essential component of a statewide strategic approach to workforce development that will benefit every region in the state.
Given the swift advancements in technology, forecasting the future of work is a major priority. Our task force is dedicated to assisting local businesses in understanding and preparing for these impending changes. Through fostering collaborations between businesses, academia, and governmental organizations, we aim to cultivate a more resilient economy, sensitive to both the immediate and future needs of Long Island’s workforce.
Smaller businesses often find it challenging to predict future skill requirements. Therefore, we are tailoring our efforts to assist these firms, providing guidance to navigate and prepare for future demands. Our objective is to equip these businesses with programs that address their specific workforce needs.
As HIA-LI celebrates its fortyfifth anniversary later this year, the launch of the Workforce Development Task Force is a testament to the organization’s enduring commitment to nurturing the growth and development of Long Island’s business community, and in particular, the people that make it all happen. We see this initiative as a strategic response to an existing challenge, helping to ensure a more dynamic, resilient, and future-ready regional economy.
We invite you to attend our fall Workforce Development Conference on Friday, October 13, from 9:00am to 11:30am, at Farmingdale State College where the findings of the “LI-IPH In-Demand Skills Assessment” will be presented and discussed. To register, go to “Events” at www.hia-li.org.