SKANEATELES, N.Y. — A group of four apprentices is working at Tessy Plastics Corp., representing the firm’s entry into New York State’s apprenticeship program. 

As part of the program, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is offering to supplement wages with grants of up to $15,000 per year per apprentice and tax credits of between $2,000 and $7,000 per year per apprentice, per a Tessy Plastics announcement.

The U.S. is currently dealing with a “national shortage” of trained and certified skilled tradespeople, according to Tessy. Occupations such as toolmakers, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) positions are in “high demand with [reduced] employment numbers.” 

New York businesses are having difficulty finding people who are trained and qualified to meet the project demands, Tessy said. 

For years while most high schools’ academic focus has been toward preparing students for college attendance, “skilled trade preparation has languished as the ranks of certified journeymen, who are the trainers for the next generation, are aging and retiring — leaving a gap in the manufacturing and fabrication pipelines,” Jim Weishaar, apprenticeship mentor at Skaneateles–based Tessy Plastics, said in a statement.

SUNY schools are additionally offering $5,000 grants for related classes, books, and fees covering the majority of the college credits to support this effort. 

“Having completed a 4-year apprenticeship of OJT (on the job training) and academics, a journey worker will have a solid foundation in skill sets much in demand and without any school debt,” Weishaar said. “Our future and the standard of living in New York are dependent upon us taking action now.” 

In addition to their state certification in tool making, each Tessy apprentice will also be federally certified through the U.S government, the company noted. 

“I am excited and honored to partner with Tessy Plastics Corp. in their new mold maker apprenticeship program as their [NYSDOL] apprenticeship training representative … It is a great opportunity for apprentices to earn an income while they learn a trade and for employers to develop and retain highly skilled employees,” Melissa Gale, apprenticeship representative at NYSDOL, said in the Tessy announcement. “Apprenticeship training is growing in New York State, and employers, employees, and the community as a whole benefit from apprenticeship opportunities just like this.”