CLINTON, N.Y. - New York State Senator Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman David Townsend announced that Hamilton College will receive $671,141 from the New York State Dormitory Authority for the purchase and installation of equipment at the Kirner-Johnson Building .

The legislative grant award was administered through the New York State Dormitory Authority’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap).

"I’m pleased that I could help Hamilton in renovating a huge part of Hamilton College and Kirkland College’s academic history," said Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R-C, Rome). "I worked hard to secure these funds because Hamilton had a vision for transitioning this historic building into a state of the art educational center for more of its prestigious programs." He added, ”I commend President Joan Hinde Stewart and the Foundation for their vision. ”

“Hamilton College has a rich history of emphasizing the liberal arts in an atmosphere consistent with a modern, high-tech university,” said Assemblyman David Townsend (R, WF-Sylvan Beach). “I am happy to announce the Dormitory Authority’s generous grant for the expansion and renovation of the college’s Kirner-Johnson Building, a repository of interdisciplinary knowledge as well as an extended classroom where some of the state’s finest educators teach the importance of written and verbal communication. With this new funding, I am confident that Hamilton College will continue its tradition of excellence in higher education and remain one of the preeminent liberal-arts schools in the state for some time to come.”

The Kirner-Johnson Building is home to the departments of government and economics, which account for the largest enrollments and about a third of the majors in the Class of 2008. Along with the Deans of Students and the Registrar, the building also contains the centers for writing and oral communication and the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center.