Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $123,525 in federal funding for research and development at Hartwick College, to help the local craft brewing and food industry. The funding was allocated through the Appalachian Regional Commission (APR) and when combined with funding from the college and local sources, the project will total $349,447 and could create 32 new jobs.
“Craft brewing is a burgeoning industry in New York and Mohawk Valley is leading the way,” said Senator Schumer. “This grant will allow Hartwick College to develop a lab that will help support the Mohawk Valley craft brewing industry by training the next generation of industry professionals in brewing and food science. This will ultimately help researchers find better ways to improve their craft and create jobs for our Mohawk Valley residents.”
“Our Mohawk Valley craft brewers and farmers have so much to offer to our local economy,” said Senator Gillibrand, first New York Senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years. “This investment for Hartwick College will help grow and develop our local industries, helping new small businesses get off the ground and training students on how to run successful businesses.”
Hartwick College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Tannenbaum said, “The Center for Craft Food and Beverage will effectively lower costs, enable local businesses to more effectively produce, promote, and distribute their goods, and will provide professional development opportunities to small businesses, all of which will ultimately support business growth and job creation. The development of the craft food and beverage industry locally presents unique opportunities for research and internships for our students and jobs in emerging fields for our graduates,” he continued. “The ultimate outcome of this project will be the improved capacity of craft food and beverage producers to meet demand for their products and to expand operations, retain existing jobs, and create new jobs.”
New York State is home to nearly 100 breweries and nearly 30 distilleries. This new program at Hartwick College will be used to create a testing laboratory in order to research and develop ways to improve the quality and amount of value-added craft products. The new research and development center will also collaborate with Hartwick College’s biotechnology courses to provide training, certification and advanced education in brewing and food science.
The Appalachian Regional Commission grants are awarded to local governments, agencies, non-profits and schools, in order to be used for economic development initiatives in the Appalachian Region.