Six months after his last visit, Senator Charles Schumer was back in Glens Falls on Monday, touring the Tech Meadows development site. Matt Hunter reports.

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GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – In an open field spanning 40 acres of Glens Falls real estate, which city leaders have dubbed the Tech Meadows site, Senator Chuck Schumer announced his plan to help improve the region's workforce on Monday.

"It couldn't come at a better time because we're expecting businesses to come to Glens Falls," Schumer said.

Joined by city leaders, Schumer announced his office has applied for an EPA grant of up to $1 million.

The money would be spent at the new headquarters and training center of the Local Plumbers Union 773, which is the first organization to commit to building at Tech Meadows.

"It's just going to be able to allow us to promote and recruit more tenants to this lovely park we have at the Tech Meadows campus," Glens Falls Mayor Jack Diamond said.

If approved, the EPA grant would be the second batch of federal funding Senator Schumer has helped secure for the Tech Meadows site. The first has paid for water and sewer infrastructure, while the second would provide training for workers in high tech industries on how to deal with hazardous materials.

"In the chip plant industry there are many dangerous chemicals and we need to make sure that our members are up to speed on how to react in a situation with a chemical spill," UA Local 773 business manager Scott Martell said.

In addition to companies like Global Foundries, which is expected to add thousands of jobs to the area, Senator Schumer says the specialized training is needed to work on projects like General Electric's dredging of the Hudson River.

"That work is highly regulated, there are all kinds of rules about how it's done and who can do it," Schumer said.

With city leaders attempting to lure new high tech businesses to the eight lot Tech Meadows site, many believe the new training center will provide a much needed incentive.

"To have a very skilled, ready-to-go work force is critical and we're very fortunate to have them choose Glens Falls," Diamond said.

While there's no timeline on the EPA grant application process, construction on the new training center is set to begin this spring.