NYS budgets $40m to build new state food lab

According to state officials, the state food laboratory will remain in the area, creating a new development opportunity. The 2008-09 state budget includes $40 million for the construction of a new building to house the food lab, which has 42 employees. The lab's current home, in the Harriman State Office Campus, is outdated and in need of "major renovations" to accommodate new testing procedures. The office of state agriculture commissioner, Patrick Hooker, will be searching for a location in the area for the new lab.