RIT projects win Revitalization Initiative funding

Three Rochester Institute of Technology economic development projects are among the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council initiatives receiving funding from New York state.

The funding was included in the $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative award to the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council at a ceremony yesterday (Dec. 10) in Albany. The awards were part of the fifth annual round in which regional councils across the state competed for a piece of $2.5 billion in economic and community development funding. New this year was the Upstate Revitalization Initiative in which seven regional councils competed for three, $500 million top awards, to be paid out over five years.

“We are very excited to be part of the Finger Lake region’s winning proposal, and we thank Gov. Cuomo for his vision in creating the Upstate Revitalization Fund,” said RIT President Bill Destler. “We appreciate the regional council’s support of our projects which will build on work being done at RIT, creating economic value and jobs.”

Among the awards to RIT:

• $100,000 to purchase 3-D inkjet printing equipment for the new Additive Manufacturing and Multi-Functional Printing Center. The center, a state-designated Center for Advanced Technology is run by Denis Cormier, RIT’s Earl W. Brinkman Professor and a national expert on 3Dprinting and additive manufacturing.
• Two grants- totaling $100,000 - to train up to 40 military veterans and unemployed workers through RIT’s Center for Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly on electronic assembly and soldering techniques that will be needed to fill jobs in the local photonics industry.