Tools

Officials hope tech announcement could halt the area's 'brain drain'

By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Sep 28, 2011 at 12:31 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 28, 2011 at 12:31 PM EDT

MARCY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Organizations that have spent years trying to keep college students in the Mohawk Valley upon graduation say Governor Cuomo's announcement on Tuesday that global tech giants are investing billions in research and development facilities across upstate will go a long way in plugging that 'brain drain.'

"We don't want them to come here, study and leave, we want them to be able to have opportunities. This type of an announcement creates those opportunities for the workforce that's here, for the students that are studying, it creates opportunities. It also creates optimism," says Ray Durso, Jr., of the Genesis Group.

When the governor made the announcement, he said he was tired of seeing young people board planes to find better jobs and better opportunity outside New York State.

Global nanotechnology leaders, including Intel, Samsung and IBM are investing $4.4 billion in R&D facilities across upstate, including one on the SUNYIT campus in Marcy. Construction on that building is slated to begin in the spring and be complete in 2013.

What's On