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 CUNY 2020 program is designed to connect the innovative, academic programs offered by New York City’s public universities to local economic development,” Governor Cuomo said. “In today’s economy, universities are not just classrooms and research facilities; they support thousands of local jobs and are often the top economic driver in local communities. With these awards, the State is pleased to provide funding that will help CUNY continue to offer a world-class education to hundreds of thousands of students, while also supporting new jobs and investment in the surrounding communities.” 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.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:14:52 +0000
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