Rochester, N.Y. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the re-designation of the Greater Rochester Finger Lakers application for the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) Program. The designation, approved by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue efforts to expand regional business parks, promote the development of potential manufacturing businesses, grow existing manufacturers, attract new companies to the area and build community partnerships.
“Two years ago, I was proud to support the initial application by these highly dedicated community partners in their effort to collaboratively promote the growth of manufacturing in this area. The Rochester/Finger Lakes region is well-known for its research and is nationally recognized as a manufacturing hub – this area is rich with knowledge, experience and innovation in optics manufacturing, metrology and imaging. But there is still more work to be done, and this re-designation will allow the Rochester/Finger Lakes region to expand upon its previous success,” said Senator Schumer.
“The Rochester/Finger Lakes region is world-renowned as a research and manufacturing hub in optics, photonics, and imaging. Continuing this designation will assist in securing more federal funds and technical assistance needed to build on this momentum to achieve continued growth of our manufacturing sector,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I urged the Commerce Secretary to approve this designation again because the IMCP allows the region to unlock economic development funds for smart investments in high-impact projects and to leverage public-private partnerships to help create good-paying manufacturing jobs, jumpstart new businesses, and grow our economy for years to come.”
In April 2014, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand called on the Secretary of Commerce to launch the manufacturing initiative in the city of Rochester to help businesses grow and support job creation.
Earlier this year, Senator Gillibrand introduced the bipartisan Made in American Manufacturing Communities Act, to bolster more growth in the American manufacturing industry, this legislation would create a permanent program to competitively award regions with the “Manufacturing Community” designation, continuing the IMPC Program. The designation would give communities preferred consideration when applying for up to $1.3 billion in currently available federal economic development funding for manufacturing. This legislation encourages a regionally-driven approach to strengthening the manufacturing industry and would help create regional partnerships with key stakeholders such as local and state economic development officials, local governments, manufacturers, labor organizations, and higher education or other training providers.
The full text of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand’s letters to the U.S. Department of Commerce are included below:
Jay Williams
Administrator
Economic Development Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 71014
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Administrator Williams:
I write this letter in strong support of the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership’s (IMCP) application for re-certification.
Two years ago, I supported the initial application by these highly dedicated community partners in their effort to collaboratively promote the growth of manufacturing in the area. The region’s IMCP designation will assist in its effort to expand business parks, promote the development of other potential manufacturing businesses, grow existing manufacturers, and attract new companies to the region. The Finger Lakes region received its designation in June 2014, and members have been able to obtain federal grants as a result of this designation.
While the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region is grateful for the initial designation, there is still much to accomplish in growing the manufacturing sector, employing more of the region’s residents and enhancing the region’s economic revitalization. New York businesses and research centers are now developing — and exporting around the world — breakthrough applications for adaptive optics, high-speed communications, geo-spatial imaging, photonic computing, nanolithography, and biomedical imaging. The Rochester / Finger Lakes region is recognized as a research and manufacturing hub, rich with knowledge, experience and innovation in optics manufacturing, metrology and imaging. The region hopes that re-certification would assist in securing more federal funds needed for the continued growth of the manufacturing industries in the area. I am proud of the region’s accomplishments within the short period of time since its IMCP designation, and am pleased to support the effort to recertify.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
The Honorable Penny Pritzker
Secretary of Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Secretary Pritzker,
I write in support of the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership’s (IMCP) application for re-certification through the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. This recertification will allow Rochester’s IMCP designation to continue to pull together community partners in a collaborative effort to expand regional business parks, promote the development of potential manufacturing businesses, grow existing manufacturers, and attract new companies to the area.
The Rochester/Finger Lakes region is world-renowned as a research and manufacturing hub in optics manufacturing, meteorology, and imaging. The Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region has used their IMCP designation to build on the area’s strength in this industry. Since receiving the designation in June 2014, the region has been awarded over $6.3 million for economic development projects that are helping to grow the manufacturing sector, increase employment, and enhance the region’s economic revitalization making it an even more attractive location for new investment.
Recertification of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region’s IMCP designation would assist in securing more federal funds and technical assistance needed to build on this momentum to achieve continued growth of the manufacturing industries in the area. New York businesses and research centers are now developing and exporting around the world breakthrough applications for adaptive optics, high-speed communications, geo-spatial imaging, photonic computing, nanolithography and biomedical imaging. Granting the recertification will support these important initiatives, having a lasting impact on the strengthening of the Finger Lakes region’s economy and further making the United States globally competitive in these high-tech areas, therefore achieving the goals of the IMCP program.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator