The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is partnering with our rural educational partners and helping them transform hands-on education across Western New York. Across several Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) campus centers in Erie 2-Chautauqua – Cattaraugus (E2CC), students and educators are witnessing, and even taking part in, a powerful example of what happens when rural communities gain access to cutting‑edge training tools. Through nearly $1 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program funding, the USDA is supporting multiple E2CC BOCES centers in acquiring advanced simulators that are giving students industry‑level experience long before they ever step into a real work environment, strengthening workforce confidence as well as readiness for both students and the broader rural economy.

At the Careers in Advanced Manufacturing Pathways in Technology Early College High School (CAM P‑TECH) program in Springville, the Amatrol Skill Boss Logistics system is providing immersive training in automation, inventory control, and supply‑chain operations. Students are now building real technical skills that directly meet the needs of regional employers, allowing rural youth to compete confidently in high‑demand fields.

“Providing students with access to advanced equipment like the Amatrol Skill Boss Logistics system allows them to develop the technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and confidence needed in today’s automated workplaces,” said P-TECH, Career and Technical Education, and Program Innovations Interim Director Maureen Donahue. “Through the USDA Rural Development grant, our students are learning on the same types of systems they will encounter in modern manufacturing and distribution facilities, while earning industry-recognized credentials that can open doors to meaningful careers. This investment strengthens both our P-TECH program and the workforce pipeline across our rural communities.”

At the Hewes Center, in Ashville, heavy equipment simulators and augmented reality welding systems are giving students safe, repeatable, and highly realistic practice under the hood. Whether they’re learning to operate heavy machinery worth hundreds of thousands of dollars or mastering precision welds, students can make mistakes, learn, and try again without risk or damaging real-world equipment. The addition of OmniSim Patrol and TranSim units enhance training even further, preparing future operators and public‑service professionals for complex, real‑world conditions, including operating tractor trailers, construction vehicles and law enforcement vehicles.

At the LoGuidice and Ormsby Centers, in Fredonia and East Aurora, USDA investments in Virtual Reality nursing simulators and related equipment trainers are opening doors for students pursuing a career in the healthcare field. Interacting with patients, taking vitals and practicing basic care techniques in a virtual environment as they use their vRNa headsets. These tools ensure rural learners have access to the same advanced opportunities found in larger urban districts, strengthening local talent pipelines and expanding economic possibilities.

“USDA DLT funding goes far beyond purchasing equipment, the program is working to open doors for students in rural communities by providing the cutting‑edge tools they need to jumpstart their futures,” said USDA Rural Development New York State Director Richard Mayfield. “USDA Rural Development is proud to be a partner in hands‑on learning, ensuring these young professionals are workforce‑ready from day one.”

With USDA Rural Development’s support, BOCES students aren’t just preparing for careers, they’re gaining confidence, mastering modern equipment, and building the skilled workforce that rural New York relies on. This funding is more than an investment in technology; it’s an investment in communities, opportunity, and the future.

To learn more about this and other programs offered by USDA Rural Development, please visit us online at: www.rd.usda.gov/NY.