Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter, president of Farmingdale State University of New York, announced at a press conference that $85,000 has been awarded to the college to fund two special projects. The funding was secured through an exceptional example of interagency cooperation among State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Route 110 Redevelopment Corporation Chairman Ken Greenstein, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone and Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone.

The first project, the creation of a Fuel Cell Learning Center, has received an allocation of $75,000. The second project, the creation of a master plan to beautify the Route 110 entrances to the campus, has received $10,000. Dr. Gibralter said, "I am grateful to Senator Fuschillo, County Executive Levy, and Town Supervisors Bellone and Petrone for funding this project. Without their support and the generosity of Route 110 Redevelopment Corporation's Don Middleton, faculty like Distinguished Service Professor Dr. Hazem Tawfik wouldn't be able to explore the future of renewable energy. Hydrogen technology is the future and together we will demonstrate its efficacy."

The Fuel Cell Learning Center will be run by Dr. Tawfik through the Institute for Research and Technology Transfer. There are plans to create a mock model home powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The Long Island community will be able to learn more about this inexpensive and environmentally friendly source of power, since the center will be open to the public. Farmingdale students have already worked on a go-cart, a tractor, a radio and television set powered by fuel cells. In addition to his support for the Fuel Cell Center, Senator Fuschillo has been a leader in securing funding for the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, a collaborative effort between Farmingdale State and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory which is designed to focus the growth of the bioscience industry on Long Island. Groundbreaking for the second building is expected this spring.

Senator Fuschillo said, "This is an excellent opportunity to further grow this high-tech corridor and educate the public at the same time. Farmingdale State is a proven leader in the technology field and this project should continue to lead to important advances in environmentally friendly energy use."

The master plan for the Route 110 entrances to the Farmingdale State campus will include landscaping, irrigation, and signage. The college, which will celebrate its 95th anniversary in 2007, hopes to create a model for the rest of Long Island's industrial corridor along Route 110. Horticulture Professor Paul Fogelberg plans to work with an outside design company to develop the plan.

Ken Greenstein said, "The Route 110 Redevelopment Corporation was founded by the Towns of Babylon and Huntington to act as a coordinating agency for public, private and civic support to bring environmentally friendly, hi-tech business to the Route 110 corridor. This is a fine example of our community working together to achieve that goal."