SUNY Orange Community College is pushing forward with its Innovation Grand Street project with a $200,000 pledge from Central Hudson in an economic development grant.

The money will be used for the renovation of three buildings owned by Orange County on Grand Street. More than $2.03 million raised will be used to created programs that will serve hundreds of SUNY Orange students and create jobs for City of Newburgh residents.

“Central Hudson offers a sweep of grants to bolster the economic development programs and grants to help bolster the economy and for other opportunities,” said
Spokesperson for Central Hudson, John Maserjian. “In addition to redeveloping these buildings the project is also providing educational opportunities right in the heart of Orange County and we see that as an important contribution to the local education offerings in the area. It will benefit local residents seeking higher education and skills training and also employers seeking skilled and trained workers.”

The grant comes out of a fund from the sale of the Danskammer and Roseton power plants. It will be used for the renovation of three buildings, the masonic lodge, the YMCA building and the American Legion Hall.

The buildings will touch upon four workplace sectors, hospitality, healthcare, preservation and technology, and entreneurship.

“The exciting aspect of this is, it will be very hands on applied learning in all of these buildings,” said President of SUNY Orange, Dr Kristine Young. “So as students are learning about the industry they are actually doing the work. So they’ll be working with their hands inside the buildings and hopefully outside the buildings as well.”

Orange County purchased 48, 54, and 62 Grand Street in March of 2014 for $3.5 million. Two of the buildings are in need of serious renovation while the American Legion Hall is still in use and requiring less work.

The project took so long to initiate due to new leadership at the college. Young wanted to plan the project out properly before moving forward with any initiatives on the properties.

“This is an important project to the county, it will be a huge benefit to the Newburgh Community and to SUNY Orange,” said County Legislator Paul Ruszkiewicz. “I’m excited to see the project moving forward and I am looking forward to see the project progress and come to a good conclusion.”