In an effort to promote economic development in the Long Island City (New York) area, a study was conducted of the training and human resource needs of local manufacturing firms and the demographic characteristics of the local labor force. Specifically, the study sought to examine company needs, highlight programs available to address those needs, and recommend appropriate future programming. Questionnaires requesting detailed information on training needs were sent to 723 manufacturing firms, but only 19 usable instruments were returned. To increase industry response, 13 site visits and interviews of industry representatives and 24 phone interviews of underrepresented industries were conducted. Results of the study included the following: (1) food and related products accounted for 7% of all manufacturing employment in the area, textile and apparel for 29%, printing and publishing for 12%, metal industries for almost 6%, and electronics industries for almost 11%; (2) the most prevalent problem cited by firms was in finding workers with solid pre-employment and critical thinking skills; (3) training programs available to firms included basic pre-employment training in reading and math, skill-specific training through agencies and the state Department of Labor, and placement agencies; and (4) recommendations included developing a comprehensive pre-employment manufacturing training program, creating sewing training programs to satisfy current demand, and orienting state training efforts toward manufacturing. A list of resource agencies and the survey instrument are included. (ECC)