Although horizontal drilling in the Marcellus shale is still not allowed in New York, a local college has begun a training program to get people ready for jobs in the gas drilling industry. After all, there are plenty of jobs available on drilling rigs across the border in Pennsylvania. Our Vince Slomsky tells us about Corning Community College's Natural Gas Training Program.

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ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Whether you agree with it or not, drilling in the Marcellus shale for natural gas could bring hundreds of jobs to the area. That's why Corning Community College's Office of Workforce Development and Community Education has created a training program designed to help people get jobs in the field.

"For the actual person who is going for the curriculum, they have an awareness of the job they're going for to be getting in to. They have some basic knowledge about blueprint reading, safety, those types of things that they're able to demonstrate as they're interviewing," said Brenda English, director of the center.

They started the 60-hour training program in April and as of Tuesday, 15 people will graduate with a certificate. The non-credit class gives anyone who is interested a basic training in entry level positions.

"I believe it's a tough job, but if a person is cut out for that type of work I think it's probably a career that if you get in there's places to move within the industry sector," said English.

Once the students complete the program, a local staffing agency works to place them in a job as soon as possible.

Companies involved with gas drilling say the training program is a great idea.

"Well I think it's a great thing and the next logical step in building out a genuine Marcellus shale industry in the Southern and Northern Tier," said Mark Scheuerman of Talisman Energy USA.

"Companies will be looking to hire. They'll want to hire locally so someone with this additional training, it could only benefit them and their application," said Michelle Blackley of Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York.

English says as long as employers are looking to hire, they plan to continue the program long into the future.

The next training program will start August 16th. The cost is $925 for the entire session.

If you're interested, contact Lori Gwin at (607) 936- 5507.