Updates from the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment
NAmTrans Officially Launches Website
The North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment (NAmTrans), a subsidiary of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website: namtrans.org.
Visitors to the site will be able to easily locate and find:
  • General information on the history and development of the North Country's Transportation Equipment & Aerospace Cluster;


  • List of our partners - economic development agencies, educational institutions, and elected officials - at the international, federal, state, and regional level;

  • The direct support services that NAmTrans, alongside its partners, can provide to current/prospective cluster companies including employee training programs, workforce recruitment and retention activities, technical assistance, business location services, and more;


  • A calendar dedicated to events hosted by NAmTrans, the Chamber, and our partners.
To read the full press-release, click here.
Workforce Recruitment at Fort Drum
NAmTrans and the North Country Chamber of Commerce were proud to exhibit at the February 6th Fort Drum Career Fair - letting transitioning service members and their families know about the many career opportunities available in our region.
We would also like to thank New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon for stopping by our booth to talk about NAmTrans activities and our work with Fort Drum.
NAmTrans Director, Joel Wood, with NYS DOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon
NAmTrans Visits BAE Systems & Artik/OEM
It was a busy month on the road for our NAmTrans team - meeting with our cluster companies, local education institutions, and economic development partners.
On Feb. 10th, we had the opportunity to meet with Manna Doyle, Plant Manager of Artik/OEM in Ogdensburg, NY.
Manna provided our team with a tour of their facility and a great conversation was had regarding workforce recruitment, workforce development, and upcoming NAmTrans events.
We would like to thank Artik/OEM for hosting us, and we look forward to supporting your continued growth in the North Country!
On February 11th, we met with the team at BAE Systems Electronic Systems and were provided a tour of their Power & Propulsion Solutions facility in Endicott, NY.
NAmTrans Director, Joel Wood, with John Hroncich
BAE Systems Regional Sales Manager
As New York State moves toward electric bus technology in five of its largest upstate transit systems , BAE Systems stands ready to assist transit authorities and municipalities achieve zero emissions through a variety of electric hybrid and fully electric vehicle systems.

We are thrilled that BAE Systems has partnered with Plattsburgh's Nova Bus in the development of their innovative LFSe+ fully electric bus line , to help make this a reality not only in NYS, but across the globe.

NAmTrans would like to thank BAE Systems for hosting us - we look forward to working together in the years to come!
Cluster News
Alstom to
Acquire Bombardier Global Rail Unit
The North Country Chamber of Commerce and NAmTrans are expressing optimism about the future of rail car production in the region.
This optimism follows the announcement that terms have been agreed to for the acquisition of Bombardier's global rail division by Alstom , a French based rail car and locomotive manufacturer.
"The resulting combination of these two companies has the promise of creating a new whole business which is even stronger than the sum of the parts," states Garry Douglas, Chamber President/CEO. "In North America and elsewhere, there has been a need for consolidation to create a larger and stronger competitor in the marketplace to face the growing presence of newer players. This combination should be able to compete even more effectively for more contracts in the future, keeping the already very busy operation in Plattsburgh even busier in the years to come."
To read the Chamber's full statement, click here.

To read the full news story, click here.
Luminator Technology Group Announces Growth
Luminator Technology Group (Luminator), a valued NAmTrans cluster company and tenant of The Development Corporation's Air Industrial Park, recently announced growth and expanded operations at their Plattsburgh facility.
In recent months, Luminator has increased its Plattsburgh-based workforce - adding 24 new positions. Facility improvements have also been made, including the addition of temperature and humidity controlled testing chambers, allowing for a higher-level of quality testing for its customers.

As per Luminator's press-release , this expansion in manufacturing capabilities follows the New York Public Transit Association's recent call for a $100 million annual investment to meet the needs of NYS transit systems.
The team at NAmTrans would like to congratulate Luminator on their continued growth, and express our appreciation for their continued investment in the North Country!
Vapor Stone Rail Systems Celebrates Two Years Without Lost Time Incidents
Please join us in congratulating Vapor Stone Rail Systems , a Wabtec Company, as they recently celebrated two (2) years without lost time incidents!
Vapor Stone Rail Systems designs, prototypes, develops, manufactures, and distributes, door systems for metros, and air conditioning systems for commuter & passenger trains. Vapor Stone Rail Systems officially opened their second facility in Plattsburgh in October 2019.

To commemorate the occasion - and reinforce the company's commitment to safety - Vapor Stone Rail Systems employees from both facilities joined the senior management team to celebrate!
From left to right: Nancy Bailey - Senior Human Resource Manager, Alain Aumais - Director of Operations, and Carine Paumier-Hug – Vice-President and General Manager
Interested in Safety Training?
Is your company committed to fostering a safety culture, and interested in safety training?

Please contact Becky Drollette at the North Country Chamber of Commerce (518) 563-1000 to see what we can offer.

Thanks to funding from the New York State Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Abatement Board, much of this training can be offered with little to no cost to your company.
In Case You Missed It!
  • Policom, a well-respected, independent economics research firm, ranked Plattsburgh #26 among 542 micropolitan areas nationally for economic strength. Read the full press-release, here.
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  • The North Country Chamber of Commerce unveiled it's Business Confidence Index for 2020 - 73% of respondents expect business to be up this year, with another 23% expecting business to be steady, for a total rating of 96%.
  • Prevost, a member of the Volvo Group and manufacturer of premium passenger coaches, recently launched an advanced driver safety assistance suite - Prevost Driver AssistTM.
Local Workforce Training Programs:
AIME, RAMP, Ready4Real, and Women in Manufacturing
NAmTrans understands that for strong, sustainable growth, a highly-skilled, quality workforce is a not a luxury, but a necessity. In the North Country, we are fortunate to have a number of workforce programs that are providing the training and skills necessary to achieve this goal.

We encourage you to consider reaching out to participate in one of these wonderful programs - examples include offering tours, internship or job shadow opportunities, speaking to the classes, or interviewing participants for open positions. Click the program names or photos below to learn more!
Since its inception in 2010, AIME (Assembling Industry: Manufacturing and Education) has been preparing individuals - through a combination of technical and work readiness training - for new opportunities in manufacturing.

AIME is a partnership between CV-TEC, Clinton Community College, and ETS, Inc. Their next class is scheduled to begin on March 23rd.
RAMP by Coryer Staffing engages with recent high school graduates and sets them on an upward trajectory through sustained guidance, skill development, and meaningful employment.

Each employer in the North Country is integral to the regional economy, and by engaging with RAMP participants, employers can have a dramatic, demographic influence on the community. Through RAMP, employers can be confident that they are building a stronger company, stronger careers, and a stronger community - one RAMP participant at a time.
READY4REAL , education programming powered by ETS, prepares North Country high-school and college students for career and life success. Participants cover a range of work-readiness topics including: teamwork and collaboration, communication & responsibility, resume creation, interview preparation, and financial literacy.

READY4REAL participants are also provided an opportunity to connect with some of the area's top employers through a capstone networking event and work experience.
CV-TEC, in association with Protech Business Solutions, and with the support of various local manufacturers, have developed Women in Manufacturing , a hands-on training program to teach women the skills necessary to work in a manufacturing setting.

Participants will learn how to operate various hand/power tools, read blueprints, cut/crimp/solder/assemble electrical wires, assemble mechanical/electrical projects, and apply workplace readiness/safety skills. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to interview with local manufacturers.
Social Media
 Stay up to date on all NAmTrans events, services, and cluster company news - be sure to like and share our pages by clicking the links below!