SuperPower Inc., Union College, and Schenectady County Community College have secured a $5 million matching grant to train a future work force SuperPower says it needs as it ramps up production of its superconducting cables.
SuperPower CEO Philip Pellegrino announced the news Thursday during a breakfast of business leaders at Union College.
“I love New York,” he sang as he came to the podium, “especially today.”
He said he was sick and tired of seeing jobs leave New York. The project is designed to train workers for specific jobs. SCCC will train workers in manufacturing the superconducting wires used for transmitting electricity. Union College, located in Schenectady, will build a clean lab and help create the equipment needed for conducting quality control on the wires.
SuperPower, based in Schenectady, expects to grow from 50 people to 150 by 2010.
“We have no time to waste to make this happen,” Pellegrino said.
Outgoing Union College President Roger Hull said he expects the collaboration among Union, SCCC and SuperPower “will be the first of many collaborations.”
Sen. Hugh Farley (R-Amsterdam) secured the funds as part of the budget under the State University of New York capital funds for community colleges.
“I think it's a very exciting, promising idea which just needs a catalyst to get it going,” Farley said of SuperPower's product. “Time is somewhat of the essence here. I think this is a very exciting project. Unless we support it and nurture it will go someplace else.”