Stony Brook University and East End Agri Community Celebrate Groundbreaking and Construction Progress of Agriculture Consumer Science Center
Construction of 8,300-square-foot facility begins in Riverhead
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| Pictured from left at the Agricultural Consumer Science Center groundbreaking and construction recognition event at the Stony Brook University Calverton Business Incubator: Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine; Joseph Gergela, Executive Director of the LI Farm Bureau; Yacov Shamash, Vice President for Economic Development and Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University; Vito A. Minei, Executive Director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; Jodi Giglio, Riverhead Town Councilwoman; Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr., President, Stony Brook University; Kenneth P. LaValle, NYS Senate, First District; Frank Behrodt, President of LI Farm Bureau; Sean Walter, Riverhead Town Supervisor; and, James Wooten, Riverhead Town Councilman. |
STONY BROOK, N.Y., October 24, 2011 – Nearly one year after announcing the open bidding process for the construction of a new Agriculture Consumer Science Center (ACSC) at the Stony Brook University Calverton Business Incubator, Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., was joined by Senator Kenneth P. LaValle and other local dignitaries on Monday, October 24 to celebrate the groundbreaking and construction advancement of the planned Center. The project expected completion date is summer 2012.
The ACSC is being developed to help regional wine and agricultural producers and local entrepreneurs develop new, marketable consumer items and enhance their product lines through access to state-of-the-art shared processing areas and collaborations with researchers, scientists, and professionals at Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the NYS Small Business Development Center.
In March 2010, Stony Brook announced that through the efforts of New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, the University will receive a $3.5 million grant from the New York State Economic Development Assistance Program (NYS EDAP) for the construction of the ACSC at the Calverton Business Incubator, which was established by SBU in 2005 with a focus on the development of aquaculture, agriculture and environmental technologies. Funding is being administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).
“I am pleased to have secured the state funding needed to kick-start this important economic development project. The investment we make now will boost our local economy,” said Senator Ken LaValle. “This is a unique opportunity for our agricultural community to develop new, marketable consumer items and enhance existing product lines and, importantly, create new jobs and improve our region’s ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace,” Senator LaValle said.
In his remarks, Dr. Stanley expressed appreciation to Senator LaValle for his efforts in securing the $3.5 million grant for the expansion project and to the Town of Riverhead for donating the 50 acres of land on which the Center is now being built.
“This project is designed to be an economic engine, enhancing Eastern Long Island’s agriculture, aquaculture and environmental industries and promoting their endeavors to create new jobs in the industries,” said Dr. Stanley. “Here, regional wine and agricultural producers will have state-of-the-art processing areas in which to develop their products; they will be able to collaborate with scientists and researchers to develop their ideas, and they can use it as a resource in developing their products from concept to commercialization. It is a terrific project and Stony Brook is thrilled to help make it happen.”
The ACSC project budget will permit the construction of an additional 8,300 square feet of space to the already existing 15,680 square foot facility.
“I have no doubt that the creation of the Agricultural Consumer Science Center will prove to be a tremendous asset to Long Island’s East End agricultural businesses and entrepreneurs,” Dr. Stanley said. “It is a strategic initiative to building business opportunities in a challenged economy.”
The Center will house fully functional resources for agricultural producers and small scale food processors in both hot process and dry process functions. Dry storage, cold storage, and freezer storage units will be available on site, as well as a product development area with a viewing section for demonstration purposes. Producers will also be afforded laboratory space with ductless fume hoods and a microbiology lab for research and development. A loading dock will serve both the new addition and the existing building.
About the Stony Brook University Calverton Business Incubator
The Calverton Incubator was conceived as an economic engine to enhance Eastern Long Island’s agricultural, aquaculture and environmental industries. As one of Stony Brook’s three business incubators, Calverton is helping create and sustain a new base of industry and jobs by promoting the growth of tenant companies and supporting regional businesses here on Eastern Long Island. The Calverton Business Incubator is owned and operated by Stony Brook University. The Calverton facility includes offices, conference rooms, and laboratories with both fresh and salt-water access. The Incubator supports entrepreneurial companies by providing access to resources and strategies for a period of 3-5 years in an effort to foster the research and development of products and/or services for introduction into the marketplace.
About the Long Island Agricultural Industry
The agricultural industry represents 5% of the Long Island economy, provides 6,000-8,000 jobs to the local economy, boasts an annual gross income of $250 million, and produces 500,000 cases of wine annually. In Suffolk County, 33,000 acres are currently utilized for agricultural production of which 15,000 acres have been preserved for farming through the commitment of public funds by the governments of the towns, Suffolk County and State of New York – evidencing the strong commitment to sustain agricultural production as an industry on Long Island. However, the ever-increasing cost of farming and regulatory constraints necessitates farmers to come up with strategies to remain economically viable. The development of value added products to their agricultural commodities is one such strategy. Unfortunately, the cost of the execution of the many food science details in the development of a value added product line and the processing of the products in a sanitary, licensed environment is prohibitive for any single agricultural entrepreneur.
Agricultural Consumer Science Center at the Calverton Business Incubator
End-User Opportunities and Facility Programming
Room rental to incubator tenants – the ACSC will provide additional room rentals for incubator tenants on the same basis as the original building. Two offices of 100 square feet each and two laboratories of 550 sf each will be available for occupancy (pursuant to Facility Use Permits).
Shared use food processing facilities – the food processing area is divided into a “hot process” area and a “dry process” area. The hot process area provides for two food prep lines (stove, kettle, braiser, steamer, convection oven) that can be utilized simultaneously by different users and the dry process area (rack ovens, dough divider, proofer, dough sheeter, work tables, sinks) can also be utilized simultaneously by a different user. Similar to the original building, access to the ACSC will be granted to permitted users who will receive prox cards allowing building entry. Therefore, the ACSC can be accessible on a 24/7 basis.
Microbiology laboratory – this area will be established to support any necessary food processing and it is expected that this laboratory will prove itself useful to the local wine industry to complete the myriad of testing that is required for that industry. This laboratory will be offered for rent to individual users or a contract with an established laboratory services company should be considered.
Storage fees – the food processing area will be supported by storage facilities for dry storage, dry finished goods storage, raw material cooler storage, finish goods freezer storage, finish goods cooler storage. Additionally, the ACSC has been designed to permit outdoor operation of portable storage units.
Training center – the food processing areas, as well as the product development kitchen will be offered for rent to area restaurants and food processing firms to be utilized for employee training.
Demonstration center – the food processing areas, as well as the product development kitchen will be offered for rent to vendors of the food and agriculture industry for new product/process demonstrations.
Medical support groups – the product development kitchen provides the necessary equipment and space to permit instruction on food preparation for a small audience. The product development kitchen will be visually accessible by viewing panels with a space adjoining that provides seating as a viewing area. This space has been so designed to accommodate its use for support groups to be developed by the local hospitals. The support groups for cardiac, diabetes and obesity patients and their families will provide instruction on meal preparation in accordance with a designated nutrition plan.
Research and development – the product test kitchen will be offered to area chefs, agricultural producers, and small scale food producers for development of new product lines.
Viewing area/Conference room – when the viewing area is not being used in connection with the product test kitchen for demonstrations, it will serve as a conference room supporting the ACSC. The conference room will be offered for rent to area businesses, groups, organizations that require a small space for meetings and also will allow for the provision of educational programs by SBU in the areas of food safety, nutrition, general business training for specialty food producers, and the conduct of consumer research and focus groups.
