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State Senator Mike Nozzolio and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb today announced that Ontario County has received the contract for $3,256,000.00 in New York State funding for the construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center in Geneva.

The construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center will support our local economy, create local jobs and continue to put the Finger Lakes region at the forefront of agricultural research and development, while serving as a permanent location for Finger Lakes Community College’s groundbreaking Viticulture and Wine Technology Program - the only program of its kind in the Northeast. The funding for the new Viticulture Center was secured in last year’s New York State Budget through the efforts of Nozzolio and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb.

The Viticulture Center will include a world-class winemaking lab, a grape crushing pad, rooms for storing and aging wine, classroom space and a teaching vineyard.  Finger Lakes Community College’s Viticulture and Wine Technology curriculum prepares students to transfer directly into Cornell University’s four-year viticulture program and its location in the Cornell Ag-Tech park will further strengthen this relationship and provide even greater opportunities for FLCC’s students.

“After many years of planning and hard work, the construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center will become a reality," said Nozzolio.  “This important project will promote our region’s wine and grape industry, support our economy and create hundreds of well paying jobs for our local residents".

“The Finger Lakes Viticulture Center in Geneva will serve as an important resource for local educators and Finger Lakes Community College students as well as act as a catalyst for future expansion of our world-class wine industry here in the Finger Lakes,”  said Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb.  “Our area has long been a tourist destination for wine lovers, attracting visitors from across New York and around the world.  As an educator, strong supporter and alumnus of FLCC, I am proud to have played a part in giving our local wineries and future entrepreneurs this powerful tool for job creation in both the agriculture and tourism industries.”

“The construction of the Finger Lakes Viticulture Center is great news for the residents of our region and I look forward to working with Senator Nozzolio and Assemblyman Kolb as we bring new jobs and educational opportunities to the Finger Lakes,” said Jack Marren, Chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.

Ted Fafinski, Farmington Town Supervisor and former Chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, said, "The Finger Lakes Viticulture Center will train the next generation of wine makers, researchers and grape industry leaders, helping to ensure the continued growth of job-producing businesses right here in the Finger Lakes.  We are extremely grateful to Senator Nozzolio and Assemblyman Kolb for their vision in making the Viticulture Center a reality.”

“The new Viticulture Center will provide our students with the education necessary to contribute in significant ways to our region’s rapidly expanding wine and grape industry.  On behalf of our students, faculty and our entire community, I thank Senator Nozzolio and Assemblyman Kolb for their continued efforts to bring jobs and new educational opportunities to our region," said Dr. Barbara Risser, President of Finger Lakes Community College.

John Garvey, Ontario County Administrator, stated, "The Finger Lakes Viticulture Center will be the crown jewel of the Finger Lakes wine region and on behalf of the entire county, I thank Senator Nozzolio and Assembly Minority Leader Kolb for all their hard work on this major achievement for Ontario County and the City of Geneva."

“As the home of some of the most innovative agricultural research in the Nation, and in close proximity to over a hundred local wineries, the new Finger Lakes Viticulture Center will allow future winemakers to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to continue to develop New York’s wine and grape industry as one of our region’s fastest growing economic engines.  It was a pleasure working with Assemblyman Kolb, Finger Lakes Community College, Cornell University and Ontario County to make this important job-creating project a reality," Nozzolio said.

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