Senator Nozzolio Secures $625,000 For Finger Lakes Institute In State Budget
Geneva—Continuing his aggressive efforts to protect and preserve the Finger Lakes, State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio today announced that the 2007-2008 State Budget contains $625,000 for the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. This announced funding will bring the total amount of State aid that Senator Nozzolio has helped secure for the Institute to $1.975 million.
“Preserving and protecting the quality of the Finger Lakes and promoting their appeal are the key to revitalizing our communities and creating new opportunities for the future,” said Senator Nozzolio. “It was a pleasure to work to secure funding in this year’s State budget for the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.”
In 2002, Senator Nozzolio secured $1 million in State assistance for the creation of the Finger Lakes Institute, a research and education center located on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Over the years, he has secured additional funding to support the Institute’s mission of preserving, protecting and promoting the Finger Lakes.
Mark D. Gearan, President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges said, “We are grateful to Senator Nozzolio for his leadership and commitment to the Finger Lakes Institute. His commitment to the environmental protection of the Finger Lakes as well as economic development in our region is longstanding and his work to secure this latest funding is evidence once again of his dedication to the Institute."
The Institute helps coordinate the efforts of local governments, lakeshore property owners, organizations, grassroots watershed protection groups, and other regional environmental research centers in protecting the ecology of the Finger Lakes and overseeing development along the lakes. Senator Nozzolio has also been a strong supporter of establishing links between the Finger Lakes Institute and other regional environmental research centers, such as the Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems at Syracuse University, to ensure the effective utilization of this research.
The Finger Lakes Institute also works with area tourism agencies to effectively market the appeal of the Finger Lakes region. Research conducted at the Institute advances and supports revitalization, restoration and protection projects across the Finger Lakes region. The Finger Lakes region accounts for over $2 billion of the State's $37 billion tourism industry.
“The Finger Lakes region is just beginning to tap its economic potential as one of the nation’s top tourism destinations. The Finger Lakes Institute will provide valuable research that will help enhance local tourism efforts and attract more visitors to our region, thereby driving greater investment into our communities,” continued Senator Nozzolio.
####
