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SENATOR NOZZOLIO WELCOMES FIRST TENANTS TO CORNELL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD TECHNOLOGY PARK
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Geneva - New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio today joined Cornell University officials and area business leaders from across the region to dedicate "The Technology Farm", a brand new, 72-acre research park, located in Geneva, designed to foster the creation of innovative technologies related to agriculture, bio-based industries and food. Senator Nozzolio has been the driving force behind the creation of the new Ag-Tech Park including delivering over $4 million in state funding and authorizing the legislation which created the Cornell Agricultural and Food Technology Park.
"The Ag-Tech Park will make our region a national leader in agri-business, food sciences and biotechnology and has the potential to remake the Finger Lakes region into "Ag-Tech alley" for cutting edge agricultural research", Senator Nozzolio said. "This new economic engine is just beginning to deliver on its promise of bringing new businesses and jobs to the region."
The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park will promote the expansion of agriculture, food sciences and biotechnology research while promoting regional economic growth. The Park has the potential to generate as many as 1,000 new jobs for Geneva and the Finger Lakes region as it is developed and takes hold.
Senator Nozzolio has been a strong supporter of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park (CAFTP) and has worked closely with Governor George Pataki to help secure more than $4 million in State funding to assist with the research and development of high-tech products and innovations at the CAFTP .
Daniel J. Fessenden, Executive Director of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park said, "Senator Nozzolio's efforts in support of the Cornell Agriculture & Food
Technology Park are truly remarkable. He has been a tireless advocate of this project
since its inception and continues to be one of the major driving forces
behind our successes."
The first tenants at The Technology Farm will include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Berrigen Biotechnology LLC, Cherrypharm, Inc., Terramend, LLC and Vitis Biosciences Inc.
The USDA will establish a new Grape Genetics Research Center at The Technology Farm, expanding on the agency's existing research unit currently housed at Cornell's Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. With funding obtained through Congressional appropriations, the agency plans to begin construction of a 59,000 square foot research facility in 2007 that will employ approximately 20 people.
The four new start-up companies directly involve Cornell faculty and will utilize the Technology Farm's brand new 20,000 square foot flexible-technology building as the growing place for their new business ventures and will create up to 60 new jobs.
"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 jobs right here. I look forward to continuing to work on this project and am extremely excited about the possibilities the Ag-Tech Park is creating for all residents in our area," Senator Nozzolio concluded.
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Column by New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette)
FUTURE STARS OF TOMORROW CAN BE SEEN IN NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE
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As the World Series concluded last month, America's favorite pastime was
entertaining millions of families throughout the nation. This year as the
Houston Astros faced the Chicago White Sox, local fans in Auburn were
seeing several familiar faces. It was not long ago that stars such as Roy
Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg, Geoff Blum and Scott Podsednik were making stops in
the New-York Penn League before they achieved their goals of reaching the
majors.
Each season, the people of Cayuga County have the opportunity to go out and
support the Auburn Doubledays and see future stars in the making for the
home team and for visiting teams in the league as well. The city of Auburn
has enjoyed a 47-year history in the NewYork-Penn League with some
memorable names like Mel Stottlemyre, Billy Wagner and Kenny Lofton all
staring on the field.
The original New York-Pennsylvania League ran between 1923 and 1938 and was
the immediate predecessor of the Eastern League. From 1939-1956 it was
known as the PONY League before adopting the current New York-Penn League
moniker in 1957. It is classified as a "short-season Class A" league with
its season starting in June, after major-league teams have signed their
amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September.
As the World Series concluded, it was very exciting to see past stars that
played in Auburn as well as other New York-Penn League teams succeeding on
a national level. Pitcher Roy Oswalt has flourished into an MVP of the
National League Championship series for the Houston Astros while third
baseman Morgan Ensberg has gone on to lead the team in home runs and RBI's
throughout the season. In addition, Jason Lane, Mike Gallo and Mark Bailey
have all become key components in helping the Astros reach the World Series
and their careers all started right here in Auburn, New York.
Prominent players in the Chicago White Sox organization also started their
careers in the New York-Penn League. Game 3 hero Geoff Blum, who homered
in his first World Series at bat in the 14th inning to conclude the longest
game in series history, played for the Utica Blue Sox in 1994. Scott
Podsednik, another World Series star to shine and hit a game winning home
run in the second game of the series, got his start playing for the Hudson
Valley Renegades in 1995. In addition, Jose Contreas, an ace pitcher for
the World Series Champs, made an appearance in the league while regaining
his form in 2003 for the Staten Island Yankees.
With the help of friend and former teacher Charlie Wride, who now is the
New-York Penn League historian, it was discovered that twenty-two players
and coaches from the White Sox and Astros made stops throughout their
careers in the New York-Penn League. A total of 118 players and coaches
who participated in the 2005 playoffs once flourished on the fields in the
New York-Penn League.
Every year, it is a pleasure for me to sponsor and host a fun,
family-oriented evening of baseball with the Auburn Doubledays at Falcon
Park. For the past two seasons, we have asked those who attend "Senator
Mike Nozzolio Night" to help the local community by donating an item to the
Food Providers Network of Cayuga County. There is no better way to help our
local food pantries replenish badly needed supplies than with an
all-American baseball game and I'm thrilled with the amount of needed food
products that have been donated over the last two years.
Hundreds of thousands of baseball fans throughout the community have
enjoyed Auburn's 47-year history in the New York-Penn league and it is my
hope that this will continue for years to come. It is evident, with the
many players who participated in this years World Series, that future stars
of tomorrow can be seen playing here for your hometown Auburn Doubledays
and across the Northeast in the New York-Penn League.
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