Investment Complements “Southern Tier Soaring” - The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development today announced the ceremonial groundbreaking at SUNY Corning Community College (SUNY CCC) for their STEAM Innovation Center, which will explore and expand public-private partnerships with local employers to meet workforce needs. The STEAM Innovation Center will also be home to the Mechatronics Lab and Innovation Hub and will incorporate academic programs including digital design and mechatronics, a multidisciplinary field combining electronics and mechanical engineering.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “As we continue in invest in companies that will bring jobs of the future to New York State, we need to have skilled workers to fill those jobs and the new STEAM Innovation Center is a smart investment to meet the evolving needs of our growing workforce.”

“We are grateful to New York State and the Governor for the continued support of our mission to prepare students for rewarding careers in the 21st century as we meet the needs of local business and industry,” said Dr. Katherine P. Douglas, President of SUNY Corning Community College. “The Center for STEAM Innovation will be an interdisciplinary facility that will unleash the power of innovation and collaboration as a result of the transformative power that comes from working in synergy across boundaries. The programs that the Center will help us develop will further empower us to meet our region’s workforce needs – with new programs and new training techniques, including apprenticeship opportunities.” 

To support the STEAM Innovation Center, SUNY CCC was awarded a $1 million CFA grant as part Round VIIIof the Regional Economic Development Council awards in 2018. The funding will be used for site upgrades and to purchase and to install state-of-the-art equipment that will be used to prepare students with a rigorous education in new and emerging areas of technology, design, and science that supports industries such as advanced manufacturing.

Senator Tom O'Mara said, "Corning Community College's new STEAM Innovation Center will be an exciting and critical addition to our regional efforts to build and grow the workforce of the future.  It promises to be a pipeline of talent for local manufacturers and other employers."

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said, "The workers who will be trained at the STEAM Innovation Center will re-energize and revitalize advanced manufacturing and other Southern Tier industries. We are excited and grateful to welcome this state-of-the-art, public-private workforce development initiative to our region, and we look forward to its success." 

“Steuben County is very excited for the groundbreaking of the STEAM Innovation Center at CCC,” said Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler. “CCC is a critical component of the economic and workforce development system in the region, and the STEAM Innovation Center will be yet another innovative initiative on campus. We are grateful for the investment by New York State and ESD, and look forward to the inevitable success of the program.”

Corning Mayor William M. Boland Jr. said, “The STEAM Innovation Center continues the impactful leadership initiatives of Corning Community College. With this initiative comes a new commitment to 21st century challenges and opportunities. With it will come a workforce prepared to move lives and America forward to bright and optimistic futures.”

Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring 

Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.2 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as a destination in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York's chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NY," the State's iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

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