The City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua Cty. break ground on $5.7 million project

SUNY Fredonia president Dennis Hefner was joined by numerous federal, state and regional officials, who together kicked off the construction phase of the new SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator, a significant economic development effort occurring within Northern Chautauqua County. The incubator, a partnership with the City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County, will offer a variety of resources up to 30 start-up companies with a technology focus and a commitment to Western New York. The $5.7 million project is already operating within a temporary facility, but the completion date for this 21,000 s/f, two-story permanent structure is targeted for the fall of 2009. "This is such a tremendous opportunity, not just for SUNY Fredonia, but for Chautauqua County and all of Western New York," said Hefner. "In a time when we're surrounded by negative news about the economy, it's so encouraging to be a part of a project like this that could potentially have such a positive and significant impact on our region." Located at 214 Central Ave. in downtown Dunkirk, the incubator will be a true extension of the main SUNY Fredonia campus in Fredonia. It will offer tenants access to a wide range of support, including business planning, infrastructure, marketing, finance, accounting and legal consulting, and other shared services. Joining president Hefner at the groundbreaking ceremony were congressman Brian Higgins, state senator Cathy Young, state assemblymen William Parment and Joseph Giglio, Daniel Doktori, director of higher education representing Governor Paterson's office, Chautauqua county executive Gregory Edwards, City of Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey, and various other regional elected and government officials, SUNY Fredonia administration and project affiliates.