Gov. Pataki speaks at ceremony for Cornell Ag & Food Tech Park

By Linda McCandless and Joe Ogrodnick

GENEVA, N.Y. -- Officials broke ground April 16 for the 72-acre Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park, slated for construction just south of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Wielding gold shovels and wearing hard hats, New York Gov. George E. Pataki, State Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio (54th Dist.), Assemblyman Brian Kolb (129th Dist.), Geneva Experiment Station interim Director Robert C. Seem and Susan A. Henry, Cornell's Ronald A. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, held the ceremonial groundbreaking to kick off construction of phase I of the park. Phase I includes a 20,000-square-foot multi-tenant Flex Technology building and supporting roadway infrastructure.

Cornell Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences Susan A. Henry speaks at the groundbreaking in Geneva for the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park, April 16. Standing behind her, from left, are Robert C. Seem, interim director of the Geneva Agricultural Experiment Station; New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb; Nathan Rudgers, commissioner of New York's Department of Agriculture and Markets; and New York Gov. George Pataki. J.Ogrodnick/NYSAES/Cornell

"The empty field we're breaking ground on today will be transformed into a national center for cutting-edge research and product development in food agriculture and biosciences that will be recognized throughout the nation and around the world," said Pataki. "The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park will secure the economic future of Geneva and the Finger Lakes region and become a driving force in attracting new high-tech and biotech jobs."

"The park will be a major economic driver for the station, the city, the county and the region," said Seem, who also is president of the park's board of directors. "This is the day we dreamed of back in 1995 when this project was first envisioned. Faculty and staff at the Experiment Station and the people of Geneva have been anxiously waiting to see the road and the buildings emerge. I appreciate the support from Sen. Mike Nozzolio and Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert and Jim Walsh for being the moving forces behind this project. And the assistance of Gov. Pataki has been absolutely essential in the development of the park and getting us where we are today."

"Cornell University is going to be looking increasingly at technology transfer as a potential engine for economic development both on and off campus," said Henry. "Increasingly, we will partner with new enterprises involved in cutting-edge technologies in agriculture and the new life sciences, as well as with other universities, SUNY [State University of New York] campuses and high-tech industries."

The Ag & Food Tech Park is affiliated with the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Experiment Station. In addition to enabling start-up and established companies to carry out cutting-edge research in food, agriculture and bio-based technologies, the Ag & Food Tech Park will greatly complement existing research and extension programs of the Experiment Station and Cornell.

The Flex Technology building will provide space for a series of firms and is expected to create up to 80 new jobs initially. At full build-out of the park in 10 to 15 years, 1,000 new jobs are expected. So far, eight firms have expressed interest in locating at the site. In addition, a 85,000-square-foot USDA Grape Genetics facility is expected to be constructed on site, available for occupancy in 2006, housing 30 to 40 scientists.

More than $7.3 million has been raised for the park from federal, state, county and city contributions. When completed, there will be about 375,000 square feet available at the park for research development and light production by enterprises engaged in food, agriculture or bio-based technologies. Park officials already are partnering with the Infotonics Center of Excellence in Canandaigua and other universities in central New York to build collaborative relationships.

At the ceremony, state Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers said: "It's exciting to be here today to see this greatly anticipated project get under way. The Agricultural Experiment Station has always played an important role in the growth of the agricultural industry in New York state. The creation of this tech park will enhance Geneva's role and its contributions to the industry."

"Access to the Ag & Food Tech Park is critically important to our efforts to create jobs in the Finger Lakes region," said Nozzolio. "By promoting high-tech and research-based industries, we are positioning New York state to be an international leader in innovative and emerging technologies and creating new jobs."

Funding that ensured the spring groundbreaking came in March, when the New York State Department of Transportation announced $1.5 million in funding through the Industrial Access Program for construction of the park road and other access infrastructure. The funding met the federal matching requirement for a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration that was received in June 2003. In addition, in February the state committed $310,000 to support the construction of the Flex Tech building. Bids for construction and related infrastructure are due to go out this week. A search for an executive director for the park is under way.