Alfred State Partners With Jones Memorial, St. James, And Noyes Memorial Hospitals To Provide Hands-On Training And Help More Students Advance In Healthcare Careers
Schumer Says Effort Will Strengthen Regional Healthcare Ecosystem, Meet Growing Demand For Healthcare Workers, And Support Good-Paying Jobs Across Allegany, Steuben & Livingston Counties
Schumer: Federal Funding Will Help Strengthen Rural Healthcare And Expand Access To Skilled Professionals Across Upstate NY
From the Office of US Senator Chuck Schumer,
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today visited Alfred State College to launch a push in support of the college’s new proposal to strengthen the regional healthcare workforce. Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Labor to deliver $6,197,191 in federal funding to expand healthcare education and training, strengthen career pathways to good-paying jobs, and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals to address critical staffing shortages in rural communities across Upstate New York, including Allegany, Steuben, and Livingston counties.
“From the classroom to the clinic, this innovative healthcare program will strengthen the regional healthcare system and help address critical staffing shortages,” said Senator Schumer. “At a time when rural healthcare systems across Upstate New York are facing significant pressures, from cuts to critical programs and federal policies creating even greater uncertainty, it is vital that we invest in preparing a pipeline of the next generation of healthcare workers. I’m proud to support Alfred State College’s proposal, in partnership with hospitals and healthcare facilities from across the region, to prepare over 500 people for healthcare careers in Western New York.”
Last month, Schumer explained in a letter to Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling that the college’s proposal, titled “Curriculum to Career: Expanding the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Western New York,” would directly address workforce shortages in nursing, radiology, healthcare management, and more. The effort will create new pathways to healthcare education and good-paying jobs while also addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals. By expanding clinical placements, paid internships, on-the-job training, healthcare program enrollment, and stackable credentials, the project will help more students move from the classroom into the healthcare workforce.
Alfred State College projects the initiative will help 543 participants start an accredited training and/or degree-seeking education. The effort comes as rural healthcare systems and communities across Upstate New York face significant pressures, from cuts to critical programs to policies creating greater uncertainty. A 2025 report examining healthcare professional shortages in 16 rural New York counties identified major healthcare gaps—including practitioners, providers, and physical facilities—in rural counties such as Allegany, Steuben, Cattaraugus, and Wyoming.
“We are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer for his steadfast leadership and unwavering advocacy for Alfred State College and rural Western New York. Welcoming him alongside our vital regional partners at Jones Memorial, St. James, and Noyes Hospitals underscores our shared commitment to solving the healthcare workforce shortage in Allegany, Steuben, and Livingston counties. With the $6.2 million support from the WORC Grant, our Curriculum to Career initiative will allow us to expand clinical placements, launch hands-on training and microcredentials, and prepare the next generation of essential healthcare professionals right here in our community,” said Dr. Steven A. Mauro, President of Alfred State College.
“Developing a workforce pipeline and providing career development through education are key business and recruitment/retention focus areas for Noyes Health. This grant, and the partnership with Alfred State will significantly enhance our ability to attract, retain, and grow talent in our region to develop the healthcare workforce of the next generation. We greatly appreciate the leadership at Alfred State and Senator Schumer’s support in this coming to fruition,” said J. Chad Teeters, MD, MBA, MS, FACC, President/CEO, UR Medicine – Noyes Health.
“St. James Hospital is incredibly thankful for Senator Schumer’s dedication to addressing the unique challenges faced by rural healthcare providers. His leadership in advocating for workforce training grants will have a profound and lasting impact, allowing us to expand access to quality care, improve health outcomes, and create sustainable career pathways for individuals in our rural areas. Support of workforce investment grants is a testament to his commitment to the well-being of all constituents and our community,” said Wendy Disbrow, MBA, RN, President and CEO of St. James Hospital.
“The years following the pandemic taught us that we cannot solve gaps in the rural workforce by working in silos. It takes a joint effort by employers and educators along with resource support. The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) initiative is vital for institutions like ours. It will allow us to fill the skilled healthcare labor gaps, leveraging the local rural workforce and in turn strengthening economic development,” said James Helms, FACHE, FHFMA, CPA, President / CEO of Jones Memorial Hospital.
Schumer explained that the proposal will help build a stronger healthcare pipeline by giving students and current healthcare workers more opportunities to gain the skills and experience needed by local employers. Alfred State College will work with three regionally significant healthcare partners: Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, St. James Hospital in Hornell, and Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville. The initiative will provide on-the-job training for healthcare workers, expand the number of clinical placements, and provide paid summer internships for students enrolled in healthcare majors. These hands-on opportunities will help students and workers gain valuable experience while giving local healthcare providers a stronger and sustained pipeline of skilled talent. It will also increase enrollment in healthcare programs at Alfred State College among both traditional students and adult learners. In 2025, the incoming class at Alfred State College reached 1,493 full-time new students on census date, the largest group since 2010, for a total enrollment of 3,758, with most degree-seeking undergraduate students being in-state students from across New York.
Schumer previously delivered federal investment to support successful industry-based workforce training programs at Alfred State. In 2021, Schumer announced $1.4 million in federal funding to meet training needs like specialized welding skills for two major industrial employers in the region and support nearly 200 new jobs. Schumer explained that two of the counties—Allegany and Steuben—in the project area are part of the federally designated Appalachian region and have faced high levels of poverty, low job growth, and health disparities. Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act (WORC) grants, through the U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, allow recipients to help their communities diversify their local economies by developing a skilled workforce and providing equitable access to marginalized communities.
Schumer’s letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling can be found HERE or below:
Dear Acting Secretary Sonderling,
I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by Alfred State College of Technology to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative. SUNY Alfred’s proposal, “Curriculum to Career: Expanding the Healthcare Workforce in Rural Western New York,” will directly addresses workforce shortages in nursing, radiology, and healthcare management that impair the quality of healthcare received by rural residents.
As Western New York’s leading technical college, Alfred State is uniquely positioned to continue helping grow the region’s workforce. This collaborative effort between Alfred State College, local hospitals, and workforce development agencies will result in an increased and improved pipeline of healthcare workers across New York’s Appalachian Region. Alfred State will provide summer internships for students enrolled in healthcare majors, provide an increased number of clinical placements, and implement stackable degree pathways through micro-credential and certificate programs. The proposal will also serve current healthcare workers by providing on-the-job training, flexible course delivery, and tuition support to allow providers the opportunity to develop additional skills while working.
Quality healthcare is the bedrock for a healthy community, especially in rural areas. The Southern Tier, at the northern tip of Appalachia, continues to be one of the most economically distressed areas of the Northeast. This project offers an opportunity to reverse this trend by building on SUNY Alfred’s existing technical curriculum.
I applaud Alfred State College of Technology for its foresight, and sincerely hope their application is met with your approval. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Grants Director at grants@schumer.senate.gov.
Thank you for your consideration.
