Dream It Do It to expand in Western New York

Dream It Do It will be growing substantially, thanks to a $500,000 grant through the New York State Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The funding is part of the $785 million in economic development spending announced Thursday by Governor Andrew Cuomo through the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils.

Dream It Do It is a national program developed by the Manufacturing Institute, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers. The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier secured a license to implement the program in Chautauqua County in 2009, and later acquired the statewide license to allow for its expansion.

Dream It Do It promotes advanced manufacturing and careers offered in advanced manufacturing. DIDI links local high school students with opportunities to learn about advanced manufacturing. Components of the project have included Tech Tours of local manufacturing facilities, presentations in high school technology classrooms, the development of internships to place high school students in advanced manufacturing settings and working with Jamestown Community College on robotics and other high-tech projects and events.

"This grant funding provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to grow this program," Chamber/MAST President and CEO Todd Tranum said. "I want to thank Dave Johnson, Director of Industrial Services in our office; David Porter, plant manager at Cummins, Inc.; Bill Daly, Director of the Industrial Development Agency of Chautauqua County; and County Executive Greg Edwards, Greg DeCinque of Jamestown Community College, and Nadine Powell of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, for their support and effort on behalf of this program and its inclusion in the Western New York Regional strategic plan. We all advocated for the program through a rigorous regional council process. I am very pleased that this grant request was approved."

"Dream It Do It was expanded into Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties this year," Tranum said. "The additional funding will enable expansion into Erie and Niagara Counties as well. As part of the expansion we will implement regional marketing, events, and apprenticeship opportunities."