October 25, 2021
Albany, NY

Governor Hochul Announces Grand Opening of Binghamton University's Decker College of Nursing And Health Sciences In Broome County

112,000 Square Foot Facility - Formerly the Endicott Shoe Box Factory - Now Open to its First Class of Students

New York State Invests $287 Million in 13-acre Health Sciences Campus and STEM Education Initiatives at Binghamton University

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the grand opening of Binghamton University's Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences in the Village of Johnson City, Broome County. The State has invested a total of $287 million to complete the 13-acre Health Sciences Campus in downtown Johnson City, which includes Decker College, and STEM Education Initiatives at Binghamton University. The now completed, six-story, 112,000 square foot, learning facility is located inside of the repurposed Endicott Johnson Shoe Box Factory. Once a 97,000 square foot structure, the project included the construction of a 15,000 square foot addition to the original building. More than 130 faculty and staff are employed across Decker College, which has more than 700 students (undergraduate and graduate). There are more than 6,000 Decker College alumni across the world, many of whom are serving their communities as leading clinicians, researchers, educators and administrators.

"It's an exciting moment for New York as we celebrate the grand opening of Binghamton University's brand new facility for the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, our latest investment in New York's world-class education system that is creating the workforce of tomorrow," Governor Hochul said. "Through this project and other transformational initiatives across the Southern Tier, we will be able to attract and retain young talent while growing our state's economy."

https://www.youtube.com/embed/doFQ7rXbPko

The new Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Building, which welcomed its first students to Johnson City in 2021, represents just one component of the university's ambitious Health Science Campus located in the former blighted Corliss Avenue neighborhood in the village. The project includes the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which graduated its first class this past spring and with that first graduating class came full accreditation for the program from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

In partnership with New York State, Binghamton University has transformed a once-blighted area in a severely economically challenged section of Johnson City. The Health Sciences Campus, located just south of the village's Main Street Business District, has become a place where people are living, working, playing and conducting ground breaking research. Currently, the university is also partnering with Lourdes Hospital to construct a nearby elder care facility that will serve the community and allow students to receive hands on clinical experience.

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger said, "Our Health Sciences Initiative and the Johnson City campus did not simply materialize overnight but resulted from our Road Map strategic planning process. We knew we had significant strengths in the health sciences and there exists a local, regional and nationwide workforce problem that we could help alleviate. After years of planning and support from all corners of our University community and beyond, we successfully designed programs for our School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and built additional curriculum and programs around our Decker School of Nursing, which has evolved into the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. We are thrilled to also be transforming the urban core of Johnson City. Our strategy of targeting downtown communities for our expansion efforts paid off in Binghamton and now is having similar, positive impacts in the village. We thank New York state leadership and our local elected officials for the funding we have received through capital dollars and through the Regional Economic Development Council's Upstate Revitalization Initiative. Governor Hochul has been with us from the beginning watching this project grow and we are excited to have her here today to witness all of the results."

New York State's investment of $287 million includes funding from both SUNY and ESD to support the continued growth of the innovative BU Health Sciences Campus and its' main campus in Vestal.

Through this project and other transformational initiatives across the Southern Tier, we will be able to attract and retain young talent while growing our state's economy.

Governor Kathy Hochul

Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis said, "New York State's investment and partnership in the development of Binghamton University's Health Sciences Campus has been instrumental in moving Johnson City towards an even brighter future. This new facility reflects ESD's strategic focus on workforce development and innovation, which is creating new jobs and transformative improvements that will further catalyze the Southern Tier's ongoing revitalization."

State Senator Fred Akshar said, "At a time when nurses are in such short supply, it's so important that we invest in creating opportunities to help the nursing field thrive. Using these investments to also transform communities in need of revitalization is exactly how government should work."

State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said, "The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences is an essential part of Binghamton University's campus in Johnson City. The college repurposed an abandoned shoe box factory, bringing new life and energy to the community. I am grateful to all of our partners who not only believed in Johnson City, but understood that these investments would pay dividends in much needed educational and economic opportunities for our entire region and state."

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said, "The new Decker School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Binghamton University illustrates the power of what SUNY can do with critical State investment. This investment is allowing SUNY to help educate and train critically-needed healthcare workers, especially nurses who are the heartbeat of healthcare. As the workforce development arm for New York, SUNY is ready to meet the challenges of meeting the job demand by providing high quality, affordable public education. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and unyielding support of SUNY."

Governor Hochul Announces Grand Opening of Binghamton University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Broome County

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, "The work being done in Johnson City has been at the heart of our Upstate Revitalization Initiative plan. The opening of Binghamton University's new nursing school is the latest success in the ongoing transformation of this part of Broome County. Building BU's Health Sciences campus adjacent to UHS creates the perfect environment for the nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers of the future to learn and train. I appreciate the commitment from the Governor and Empire State Development, as well as the University, to revitalizing our community."

Village of Johnson City Mayor Greg Deemie said, "The partnership between New York State and Binghamton University has been a game changer for Johnson City. These investments are helping us to grow and revitalize neighborhoods throughout our community. I look forward to continuing to work with our local and state partners as we further catalyze on our efforts to create an even brighter future for Johnson City."

Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair Judy McKinney Cherry, Executive Director, Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) and Broome Community College President Kevin Drumm said, "This project is proof that the regional council approach is indeed working as it aligns perfectly with the region's strategic plan by utilizing academia for economic development and spurring downtown revitalization by transforming a vacant building into a vibrant facility. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Binghamton University as we work together to attract investment, create new jobs and train the workforce of tomorrow, while growing and strengthening the Southern Tier economy today."

Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring

Today's announcement complements "Southern Tier Soaring," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) is New York's chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NEW YORK," the State's iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

Contact the Governor’s Press Office

Contact us by phone:

Albany: (518) 474 - 8418
New York City: (212) 681 - 4640

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