At a glance
The Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc. on Feb. 20 signed a contract that leases land on campus designated for the center to the State University of New York (SUNY) for 30 years. This move was required to allow the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program funds to be used to construct the building, according to Dr. Craig Clark, executive director and dean of the School of Applied Technology.
The process of constructing a $5 million, 16,000-square-foot Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center on the Alfred State School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville took a big step forward recently.
The Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc. on Feb. 20 signed a contract that leases land on campus designated for the center to the State University of New York (SUNY) for 30 years. This move was required to allow the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program funds to be used to construct the building, according to Dr. Craig Clark, executive director and dean of the School of Applied Technology.
“We are also working with Empire State Development on the additional $500,000 for equipment in the building that was funded by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council process,” said Clark.
Julie Hart, president of the Educational Foundation, said of the lease-signing, “The Educational Foundation is pleased to be able to provide the land lease to facilitate the new Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center. This facility, on the Wellsville campus, will be integral to developing the skills needed in our region to support the growth and expansion of manufacturing, a major driver of our local economy.”
The center will be used to train welding technology and machine tool technology students in state-of-the-art sustainable practices in advanced manufacturing through efficient processes, including energy systems in the center. Other uses for the center include prototyping and assisting manufacturers in the development of new products and systems.
Clark noted the date for full occupation is currently planned for August 2016, with the move-in to begin in May 2016 after the spring semester has ended. Faculty members at the Wellsville campus are excited about the possibilities the new building will bring.
“There continues to be a great need for advanced manufacturing graduates, especially in welding and machine tool,” Clark said, “so the timing of this facility is great for students and the industries we serve.”