Griffo Secures Final Passage of Bill to Support Clarkson Development

Griffo Secures Final Passage of Bill to Support Clarkson Development

 (Albany) – State Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R-C-IP – Rome) today announced legislative passage of a bill (Senate #4521) that will support community development in downtown Potsdam while also helping Clarkson University, working in partnership with the Beacon Institute, create and implement technological innovations that advance research, public policy and education regarding water and water resources.

The bill allows the Beacon Institute to access Dormitory Authority services for the development of future projects at Clarkson University. Plans call for the 13,000 square foot Old Main Building, located at Clarkson University in Potsdam to be equipped to provide engineering and technology research and
development functions in conjunction with and support of the continued development of the River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON).

Griffo said that the project required legislative approval to amend  New York’s public authorities law to allow the project to go forward.

“In this case, the issue was to get a great project through the approvals needed so that the outstanding projects that can be created through this partnership off of the drawing board and closer to reality,” Griffo said. “I have been very pleased to work with Clarkson in the development of this project, which fulfills my goals of using our outstanding educational resources as springboards for community, industrial and economic development.

Griffo and Clarkson University President Tony Collins also commended the effort of Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa)  who helped pass the bill’s companion version in the State Assembly earlier this week.

Clarkson University President Tony Collins said, “I am very appreciative of Assemblywoman Addie Russell’s work in the Assembly and Senator Joe Griffo’s in the Senate in passing this legislation that authorizes the University to receive State funds support our collaboration with the Beacon
Institute of Rivers and Estuaries.”
 
Collins continued, “This legislation will enable Clarkson to accelerate the pace of redevelopment of the University’s downtown campus by providing funding to renovate and equip the University’s historic Old Main building to develop real-time, technology-based monitoring and forecasting network platforms
for deployment on NY’s great rivers: the Hudson and the St. Lawrence.  This is an outstanding example of the kind of higher education-industrial partnerships that couple research discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise for commercialization and economic development.”

The bill will be sent to the Governor for his consideration.

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