August 12, 2009
Governor Paterson Announces $58
Million in Grants for Independent Colleges and
Universities
Governor
David A. Paterson announced last week that the Board of the New
York State Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap)
has awarded more than $58 million in grants to independent colleges
and universities across the State. The funds will support 48
different projects, leverage an additional $484 million in local
investment and are expected to create more than 4,800 construction
jobs and 2,200 related industry jobs.
“I am pleased to announce the award of these matching capital
grants to New York’s colleges and universities. The HECap program
provides another avenue for State investment in the higher
education sector and a powerful economic and academic stimulus for
students and families throughout New York,” said Governor
Paterson.
The total HECap dollar award for St. John’s University is
$8,340,463 which is the second highest amount given in the State
(behind only NYU). All grant monies from HECap will be used by St.
John’s this year for the completion of the new 5-story,
brick-and-stone 127,000 square foot D’Angelo Center (named after
St. John’s benefactors
Peter and Peg D’Angelo and their family) which will open in
September 2009.
The
D’Angelo Center will feature the latest in technology, including
the latest version of the technology podium, 14 classrooms, 6
seminar rooms, student recreation and entertainment space, a café
and full-service cafeteria, and student organization offices. In
addition, the building is being constructed according to LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and
includes many energy-saving mechanical/electrical systems, and will
house a new Board Room, spacious lobby/living room and banquet
facilities.
“The HECap Program was voted by the New York State Legislature,
approved by the Governor, and funded by bonds issued by the
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The
University is grateful for the personal support that our project
received from so many of our local elected state officials during
this process,” said Brian Browne, Assistant Vice President for
Government Relations at St. John’s. “Both Assemblyman Rory Lancman
and New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the NYS
Senate Higher Education Committee, took special interest in our
application.”
“By leveraging private investment with public dollars, HECap
will stimulate short-term and long-term economic growth in
communities throughout New York State. Our own D’Angelo Center
project has already created hundreds of good-paying construction
and related industry jobs and is yet another example of how St.
John’s helps stimulate economic development in the local
community,” added Browne.
HECap provides a $1 match for every $3 raised for capital
investment at New York’s independent (private not-for-profit)
institutions of higher education. Funds are distributed according
to a formula that considers such factors as overall student
enrollment, student body financial need and size of existing and
planned campus facilities.
The HECap board consists of three representatives appointed by
the Governor, the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker.
Information on the HECap program is available at: http://www.dasny.org/dasny/hecap/index.php.
The announcement by Governor Paterson represents the second
round of awards in the $150 million program created in the
2005-2006 Enacted Budget. A list of approved projects is available
at:
http://ny.gov/governor/press/pdf/press_080609_HECap_Grants.pdf.
Contacts: Marissa Shorenstein | marissa.shorenstein@chamber.state.ny.us (518)
474-8418, (212) 681-4640 and Dominic Scianna, sciannad@stjohns.edu (718)
990-6185