A SUNYIT-led alliance of SUNY institutions has received an award of $15 million under the competitive NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced four awards of $15 million each for 19 SUNY universities and community colleges June 3 as part of the program’s second round of funding.

"Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership and the support of SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, this effort will lend badly needed support to our regional manufacturers and employers," said Wolf Yeigh, president of SUNYIT. "We're pleased that the project we envisioned last year has will continue to grow and enhance New York's standing as a manufacturing power in the global economy."

Under the project, a manufacturing alliance of SUNY institutions will cooperatively develop curricula to meet the needs for an effective manufacturing workforce and continuing education requirements for manufacturing professionals. The SUNY Manufacturing Alliance for Research and Technology Transfer (SMART) was proposed by SUNYIT and eight partner institutions:  Morrisville State College; and Ulster, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Westchester, Mohawk Valley, and Herkimer community colleges.

SMART will operate as the educational core for the Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing (CGAM). CGAM was launched in 2012, and it comprises a broad array of academic institutions and industry partners dedicated to the support of innovative, advanced manufacturing in the Mohawk and Mid-Hudson Valleys. CGAM will directly support manufacturers by coordinating education and training of the workforce and by providing incubation, acceleration and technology transfer facilities in both regions. Training will take place in areas of high demand for both employers and students.

A 501c3, not-for-profit organization, CGAM includes SUNYIT, The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC), Council for Industry (CI), Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC), Mohawk Valley Applied Technology Corporation (MVATC), and Mount Saint Mary College, as well as the eight SUNY institutions who are partners under SMART.