GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES $55 MILLION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF NY CUNY 2020 AWARDS

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the first round of NY CUNY 2020 awards, providing $55 million to fund eight innovative projects involving 20 participating CUNY campuses designed to connect academic excellence with entrepreneurship and local economic development. Projects were selected through a competitive process utilizing staff from CUNY and Empire State Development and will support the creation of more than 3,800 jobs over six years.

“The students at New York City’s public colleges and universities have provided the world with game-changing ideas in fields ranging from healthcare to manufacturing. Through the CUNY2020 program we are maximizing those ideas to create economic opportunity for New Yorkers,” Governor Cuomo said. “The first round of CUNY 2020 projects will help link some of our best and brightest students with positions in high-tech sectors, while leveraging their academic excellence to support economic development and create new opportunities throughout the New York City area. By funding these eight projects we are making an investment in New York’s future, and I am proud to present these awards to the first round of CUNY 2020 recipients.”

CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken said, “We commend Governor Cuomo and the State of New York for investing in The City University of New York with CUNY 2020. CUNY has developed and implemented many public/private partnerships and this vitally important initiative will continue to grow the economy, create employment opportunities, and expand our research and development in all five boroughs. This is a great day for the University and all New Yorkers.”

The NY CUNY 2020 program links the knowledge and innovation of higher education to regional economic revitalization, and the Governor appropriated $55 million as part of the 2013-14 State Budget for NY CUNY 2020. The program offers grants for 2- and 4-year colleges within the CUNY system for projects that connect economic development and academic excellence. Projects are selected in a competitive manner based on economic impact, advancement of academic goals, innovation, and collaboration.

The 2014-15 Executive Budget includes $110 million to expand and launch another round of NY SUNY 2020 and NY CUNY 2020. Priority will be given to plans that use technology to improve academic success and job opportunities for students, leverage public-private partnerships through the START-UP NY program, and better connect students to the workforce.

The eight projects below will receive funding as part of the 2013-14 awards:

The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (awarded $7.7 million): Brooklyn College; Kingsborough Community College; City College; Guttman Community College; Hunter College; Queens College

This project will involve the construction of a new center and research vessel that will focus on environmental resilience, climate change, and urban sustainability, and will collaborate with other academic institutions such as the NASA Goddard Institute and the National Park Service. The institute is projected to create more than 784 jobs related to research and construction along with the revitalization, increased use, and expanded access to Jamaica Bay.

Transportation Technology, Sustainable Fuel and Product Development in New York City (awarded $9 million): Bronx Community College; College of Staten Island; City College; CUNY School of Public Health

This project will renovate existing space to create a hub for transportation technology, sustainable fuel, and product development for CUNY’s only automotive technology program. Creating career pathways throughout high school and college, it will increase the study of renewable fuels, hybrid vehicle usage, air quality, and traffic patterns related to electric vehicle introduction.

The Automotive Technology programs will double its enrollment to include 500 students, and train them for new jobs in fields such as electric vehicle infrastructure, biodiesel, and renewable fuel-related industries. This program expansion is due to increase demand for Automotive Service Technicians and is expected to generate over 2,073 jobs in six years, while filling over 264 local jobs per year.

Big Data Consortium (awarded $15 million): Graduate Center; College of Staten Island; CUNY School of Professional Studies, Borough of Manhattan Community College; NYC College of Technology, City College

Through a consortium of CUNY institutions, CUNY will expand its capacity for data analytics and visualization to serve both the private and public sector. The project looks to build on New York City’s growing technological innovation strength to establish programs in data analytics. Through better understanding and usage of data, graduates will be trained for jobs across a variety of sectors that require data analytics skills.

The immediate impact of this project will create 154 construction jobs and over $15 million in wages. Data analytics professionals will fill a growing need across the country and increase efficiency in a number of workplaces.

Allied Health Training for Employment in the Bronx (awarded $2.2 million): Hostos Community College

This project will update equipment and resources to expand degree and non-degree programs in the Allied Health Field. Through state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that train students based on the specific needs of regional healthcare employers, graduates will be effectively prepared for New York’s changing healthcare field. Through this investment, over 500 graduates in a five year period directly enter a high priority workforce that is projected to grow close to 20 percent in some fields.

The areas of healthcare and social assistance are one of the two largest sectors of private employment in New York City. Through updated programs and equipment, Hostos Community College can expand access to stable employment for New York residents. This project will increase enrollment in Hostos’ highly competitive Allied Health programs and modernize instruction with the latest equipment available for students and faculty.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Education Center (awarded $5 million): LaGuardia Community College

This project will consolidate the Goldman Sachs Small Business Education Center, which is a community investment program designed to increase the growth of local businesses that are poised to grow, with a focus on providing opportunities for minority-and-women-owned businesses.

The program expects over 1,000 businesses to graduate by 2017 and has had approximately 70 percent of graduates report increased revenues, with the creation of over 600 jobs. It includes internship and co-op opportunities for students to work with growing companies and program managers from Goldman Sachs.

New Media Jobs Incubator and Innovation Lab (awarded $4.6 million): Honors College; Hostos Community College; Lehman College

This multi-campus New Media Program will enable students to learn and experiment with 21st century digital content, and within five years the program is expected to graduate 200 candidates per year and launch 24 new businesses. This project will create a new major, a new honors track and an opportunity for business development by students, with a focus on recruiting of underrepresented groups. The project seeks to fuel the New Media technology sector, as New York State is home to 29 multi-billion-dollar media companies.

Advanced Manufacturing for Economic Development (awarded $1.5 million): Queensborough Community College; Queens College

This project will develop an Advanced Manufacturing Center focused on 3-D printing, to be renovated and equipped within 6 months with 3-D printing equipment. Students will gain the skills to design and produce sophisticated components through collaboration with the Queens College Computer Science Department and local high schools, which will create new courses for students to learn sophisticated program and parts processes.

3-D printing is a technological process that can considerably lower manufacturing costs and return companies to the domestic market. Manufacturers need workers, as several hundred graduates over a 5 year period will be produced in this emerging technology, manufacturers will have increased capability to produce parts domestically that are currently developed overseas.

Center for Allied Healthcare Education and Workforce Development (awarded $10 million): Queensborough Community College; York College, Queens College, School of Professional Studies, CUNY Law

CUNY will establish a healthcare clinic in Northern Queens that has capabilities for teaching students and helping under-served members of the public through a partnership with Urban Health Plan Inc. The partnership will provide dual articulation agreements for students across a variety of CUNY schools, including legal services at CUNY Law.

This initiative expects to add 791 jobs over three years, with 678 of these jobs positions filled by graduates entering the workforce in professions related to allied healthcare education, a focus of the Regional Economic Development Council.