Education Center rendering
POUGHKEEPSIE – Construction of a proposed Dutchess Community College aviation curriculum at Dutchess County Airport in Wappinger will carry with it an $8 million price tag for a new building.
The proposal by County Executive Marcus Molinaro and the college wase
first announced in Molinaro’s budget address last week and Thursday
night, more detail was revealed to lawmakers.
The 32,000-square-foot building will be comprised of 8,000 SF of classroom space, 12,000 SF of hangar learning laboratory space and 12,000 SF of leased space, said Deputy County Executive William O’Neill, who said the curriculum will bring more economic opportunities to the airport.
“It is a catalytic type of project that will encourage developers
and other entrepreneurs to look at our airport and consider where our
future is and perhaps invest in development in and around it,” O’Neill
said. “The expanded educational curriculum, I think, is very positive
for the college and also it gives the students some expanded diverse academic
opportunities.”
The county and college would apply for half of the funding from the State Dormitory Authority, use $2.5 million on hand and bond $1.8 million.
Along with the new college courses, Molinaro wants to change the name of the airport from Dutchess County to Hudson Valley Regional Airport to continue to grow its regional economic base.
