Nozzolio Secures $865,000 For Cornell Ag And Food Tech Park In Geneva

Geneva – New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio today announced that he has secured $865,000 in Industrial Access Program (IAP) funds for the 72-acre Cornell Agricultural and Food Technology Park in Geneva. Last year, the Ag Tech Park received $1.5 million in IAP funding, bringing total IAP funding for the Park to $2.365 million.

“It was a pleasure to work to secure this funding for the Ag-Tech Park, which is helping to secure the economic future of Geneva and the Finger Lakes region,” Senator Nozzolio said. “The Ag-Tech Park is making our region a national leader in agri-business, food sciences and biotechnology and has the potential to put the entire Finger Lakes region on the map for cutting edge research.”

The $865,000 secured by Senator Nozzolio will be used by the Cornell Ag and Food Tech Park for Phase II improvements, which will complete the planned roadway infrastructure for the Park, connect the Park to Cornell’s Agricultural experiment station and enable the entire Park to be marketed to prospective tenants.

Daniel J. Fessenden, Executive Director of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park said, “Senator Nozzolio has once again delivered valuable economic development funding to his district that will allow the Cornell Agriculture & Food Technology Park to be fully prepared to meet our prospective tenants' needs. After years of planning, this project is now perfectly positioned to be a center of scientific and technological innovation for agricultural, food and bio-based enterprises."

Tom Burr, Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station said, “The successful efforts of Senator Nozzolio in securing additional funding for the Ag and Tech Park is of great value in moving along development during this pivotal and exciting time. Cornell, the Park, and the USDA will form a strong partnership that will positively affect New York’s agriculture, food business and economic development.”

The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park fosters the expansion of agriculture, food sciences and biotechnology research while promoting regional economic growth. After being fully developed over the next ten years, the Park could generate as many as 1,000 new jobs for Geneva and the Finger Lakes region.

Senator Nozzolio has been a strong supporter of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park and has worked closely with Governor George Pataki to help secure millions of dollars in State funding for the Central Finger Lakes Region’s educational institutions, local businesses and infrastructure improvements to assist with the research and development of high-tech products and innovations.

The Industrial Access Program, administered by the State Department of Transportation, provides funds to municipalities or associations sponsored by municipalities for transportation access projects that promote economic development, encourage investment, and help create and maintain jobs.

The Ag-Tech Park also received $1 million in the 2005 State budget for environmental cleanup and site preparation and an additional $298,000 in funding from the Empire State Development Corporation. Senator Nozzolio has also secured a $250,000 state grant, bringing the Senator’s commitment of state funding to $4.22 million for the Ag-Tech Park.

“By promoting high-tech and research based industries we are positioning New York State to be an international leader in innovative and emerging technologies and creating jobs right here. I look forward to continuing to work on this project and am extremely excited about the possibilities the Ag-Tech Park is creating for all residents in our area,” Senator Nozzolio concluded.