Ulster organizations establish workforce hub at iPark 87

Ulster County and the Ulster County Economic Development Alliance (UCEDA) have signed a master lease for 40,000 square feet of space at National Resources’ iPark 87 in Kingston and Ulster BOCES has signed a lease for 105,000 square feet of space for a new Career and Technical Center in the same building complex. The county’s facility will be known as The Sustainable Ulster Workforce Innovation Center.

The county, UCEDA, BOCES, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Ulster and Ulster YouthBuild are cooperating to offer training that will allow students to move directly into the workforces of various businesses. BOCES estimates that its Career and Technical Center will be capable of serving 1,200 students.

“This project is truly transformational for Ulster County, involving a unique collaboration of government, educational and community-based partners, and businesses,” said County Executive Jen Metzger. “Our shared vision is to create a vibrant hub of learning and professional development, and a direct pathway into jobs through partnerships with employers. No matter where you are in your level of education, no matter what your economic or life circumstances, you will have opportunities here. And from an economic development perspective, the workforce innovation hub will better position Ulster County to proactively attract the kinds of businesses that contribute to a diverse, sustainable, and resilient economy in our county and region.”

BOCES District Superintendent Jonah M. Schenker said that BOCES typically graduates 600 students through its programs each year and the new center will help it ensure equity and access for them in the job market.

UCEDA Chairman Rev. Gregory Simpson said that helping promote the redevelopment of iPark 87, the former IBM campus, is the single most important project on which UCEDA has been working.

“By holding the lease for the Workforce Innovation Center, UCEDA is playing another tangible and important role for the community to transform and advance the economic development agenda in the region, and we are all looking forward to seeing this happen,” Simpson said.

Michele Halstead, a vice president at SUNY New Paltz, said, “We are considering which academic programs or other offerings that would best ‘fit’ in this facility. We look forward to the continued work we are sure to have with Ulster County, UCEDA, Ulster BOCES, SUNY Ulster, National Resources and the potential businesses that may occupy the transformed space.”