U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer Wednesday announced $1.5 million in federal funding to Alfred State College (ASC). The funding was allocated through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Biorefinery Development and Commercialization Center (BDCC), the center will be a major “launching pad” that will leverage natural resources like wood to create sustainable businesses and facilitate the growth of a “New Forest Economy” in the United States. The funding will be used for to support equipment, training, and new jobs in the region.
“This is great news for Alfred State and the entire Southern Tier. This federal investment will help bring 15 new businesses and 125 good paying pay jobs to the Southern Tier and push this region’s economy into the future,” said Senator Schumer. “The work done at BDCC will help create a ‘New Forest Economy’ by working with local partners and using the region’s abundant natural resources to spur long term economic development. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure Alfred State College continues to have the resources it needs to leverage the region’s workforce and grow private enterprise.”
“ Alfred State College knows the ARC funding for the BDCC project will have high impact by supporting equipment , training and developing a network across the ARC region. Developing the proven Hot Water Extraction process in the BDCC will allow Alfred State to lead in the biorefining development and training in the region through the partners in the network,“ said Craig R. Clark, PE, PhD, Vice President for Economic Development, Alfred State College.
“This award is a blueprint for new jobs, fresh opportunities, and a robust economic future for New York’s Southern Tier.” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Earl F. Gohl. “It is part of a strategy to bring added capital into the Region, and help the region prepare to globally compete in manufacturing, technology, construction, and a variety of other industry sectors.”
Schumer explained the Southern Tier continues to be one of the most economically distressed areas of the Northeast. Alfred’s BDCC project offers an opportunity to reverse this trend by utilizing the area’s rich natural resources.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic development agency that helps grow local economies by improving water and sewer systems, increasing school readiness, expanding access to health care, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, assisting local communities with strategic planning, and providing technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses. ARC grants are awarded to local governments, agencies, non-profits and schools, in order to be used for economic development initiatives.
