Schumer: RIT Will Be Able To Create Jobs, Invest in New Technology & Continue To Keep Our Troops Safe

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that, after his urging, the U.S. Navy has expedited and awarded federal funds to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) so they may continue their over ten-year public-private partnership to find and develop cost-effective ways of rehabbing and upgrading equipment for military personnel. This is all a part of the Department of Defense's (DOD) effort to extend the life of their equipment and protect military personnel serving overseas. Today, RIT is being awarded $354,425, with a contract ceiling of $2,147,000 to allow for potential future work. With this funding, RIT's state-of-the-art laboratory will be able to continue its work extending the life of DOD equipment in a more sustainable and economical way. Schumer said that this investment will allow RIT to continue playing an integral role in supporting our military and ensuring our troops have the equipment they need to be safe, while also enabling RIT to invest in new technology, local jobs, and in growing the Rochester region's reputation for cutting-edge research and development.

"The long-standing partnership between RIT and the Department of Defense is one that benefits the local economy as well as our brave men and women serving overseas, making it a win-win-win for Rochester residents, RIT and the U.S. military," said Schumer. "This funding means more high-tech jobs for area residents, more investment in new technology, better equipment for our troops, and the continuation of a program that should make all of Rochester proud."

"For over 10 years, Senator Schumer has led the effort to establish and advance a very important research partnership between RIT and the Defense Department," said RIT President Bill Destler. "We are grateful that he continues to be a staunch and effective advocate for RIT and Western New York, and thank him for his hard work to secure this contract that will allow our work to go forward."

In January, Schumer announced that the passage of the FY2014 omnibus funding bill set the stage for RIT to land a new research contract with the Navy. Schumer, who has personally written to the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and the Director of the Office of Naval Research, in support of an over $1 million research contract for the Navy, stated he would continue to push this effort to ensure such a research contract is finalized, and said that if awarded, the contract would be fulfilled at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Beginning over a decade ago, Senator Schumer helped secure funding for the Department of Defense and RIT to build this state-of-the-art lab at RIT to work on critical defense modernization and sustainment initiatives. RIT developed cost-effective ways to rehab or upgrade military equipment, which extended the life of the equipment. Navy officials said unless the Federal Appropriations bill passed, it would not have been able to consider this contract with RIT. Now, with the passage of the Omnibus funding bill last year and Senator Schumer's push to secure this contract this year, RIT can begin working on this important mission to bring our Navy the gear it needs while bringing jobs and technology to the Rochester area.

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