Demand has increased for public safety training in the last year following a 16-month pause at the state's training facility in central New York due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Kathy Hochul's office on Wednesday announced more than 8,000 public safety professionals — ranging from law enforcement, fire service and emergency management — received training at the facility last year.
The training push comes has New York officials at the state and local level have sought to expand the ranks of volunteer organizations, including firefighters and ambulance services.
The State Preparedness Training Center, which first opened in 2006, is operated by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.