Cuomo announces Trudeau/Clarkson biotech partnership
From left, Clarkson University President Tony Collins, Empire State Development President Ken Adams and Trudeau Institute President and CEO Ron Goldfarb hold up a copy of a memorandum of understanding committing the three to a $35 million biotech partnership. The deal was signed Wednesday at the Lake Placid Conference Center. (Photo: Chris Knight, Adirondack Daily Enterprise)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in Lake Placid today, making a couple of announcements. First, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports, the governor unveiled a new biotech partnership between the state, Clarkson University in Potsdam, and the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake. Cuomo said the state is pledging up to $35 million toward the effort over a three-year period.
In a press release, the governor said Clarkson and the Trudeau Institute are “major assets” in the state. “We must harness these strengths to continue to strengthen our innovation economy. This transformational partnership will allow for the best and brightest minds to collaborate and undertake world-class research and development, building the region into a global leader in the biotech industry and driving new opportunities and jobs in Northern New York.”
The paper also reports the governor said New York will do everything in its power to make two Saranac Lake hotel projects happen: the Hotel Saranac, which the Roedel family has asked the state for $5 million to buy and renovate, and a new high-end hotel on the shore of Lake Flower. Malone-based developer Chris LaBarge has asked the state for $2 million for that project.
And the governor said the state’s going to spend $12 million for various repairs at Whiteface mountain. Money from the state’s NY Works infrastructure program will go to fix the toll road up the mountain; the toll house at the road’s base; the castle at its top end and an elevator inside the mountain that leads to its summit.
Here’s the press release on that last announcement. In that release, the governor says it’s about time the repairs are made: “For too many years the Highway has been in a state of disrepair, causing serious inconveniences for motorists and bicyclists…The North Country is truly one of the most scenic and special places on the planet, and today the State is continuing to support the region and help draw tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to come experience all the Adirondacks have to offer.”
There’s a lot more detail in the press releases, if you’re interested, and we’ll have more on all these stories as they develop.
Tags: clarkson, Cuomo, education, hotel, outdoor recreation, saranac lake, technology, trudeau, whiteface mountain
Have yet to see a good story on this where they clearly define what this “biotech partnership” entails? This may or may not be a good idea.
Yes, why so little info on what this “partnership” entails?