The Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and Stream Data Centers are pleased to announce a partnership designed to support students' college preparedness and job-readiness.

Stream, a leader in the development of world-class data centers, has donated $50,000 to the district to fund three key initiatives:

• Restoring the district's Elementary School Enrichment Program
• Supporting the purchase of a CNC plasma machine
• Sponsoring paid agricultural internships

Programs like the Elementary School Enrichment Program, which has been on hiatus since the pandemic, have been shown to improve academic performance and skill development, enhance socialization and opportunities for critical thinking for students, and provide added support for working parents. This funding will allow this program to resume this summer.

The funding will also help the district procure a new CNC plasma machine for the high school's CAD (Computer-Aided Design) lab. Chosen in collaboration with the school's faculty and administration, this state-of-the-art equipment will enable students to be trained on modern manufacturing tools. This will help them be workforce-ready for many vocational paths upon graduation and support pathways to employment within local manufacturing parks and beyond.

Stream will also sponsor a series of paid internships focused on the region's agriculture industry. These paid on-the-job learning opportunities will enhance local agricultural education and land-sustainability initiatives while boosting the community's ability to retain its youth. The internships will be available to students who meet the district's qualifications and will begin this summer.

"These hands-on, future-focused investments will have a positive impact on our school community by restoring the after-school programs our families rely on and creating internships that respect our agricultural roots while embracing new technology. It's an investment in our students and our community," said Oakfield-Alabama Acting Superintendent Robert Banzer.

Last year, Stream announced plans to build a new facility within the Science, Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in Genesee County. The development of a three-building facility would employ an estimated 125 long-term, high-paying, high-tech operational employees in addition to creating 1,000+ trade and construction jobs during its multi-year build phase, which could begin as soon as this year. The development's efficient design is poised to make the campus a low-water-use, quiet and safe addition to the manufacturing park.

"We're deeply invested in the well-being and prosperity of the communities where we build, live and work, and we are excited to make such an immediate positive impact in the Oakfield-Alabama district," said Stream Chief Operating Officer Rick Crutchley. "We consistently strive to be responsible, collaborative neighbors who can deliver long-lasting benefits to our communities. With these initial steps in Genesee County, our goal is not just to support this region's economy with the jobs we create, but to add value across the board from local business activity and municipal infrastructure to sustainable workforce development and beyond."

Learn more about Stream's WNY project at streamdatacenters.com/project-stamp.