CONGRESSMAN MORELLE, SENATORS SCHUMER AND GILLIBRAND HIGHLIGHT $2M FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(Rochester, NY) — Today, Congressman Joe Morelle was at the Rochester Institute of Technology to highlight $2 million in funding he, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, secured for their Semiconductor and Microsystems Fabrication Laboratory.   

“For generations, Rochester has been synonymous with technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurship—and now with this funding, we are investing in what makes our community special and beginning a new chapter of growth and opportunity,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “By advancing our local semiconductor industry, we are not only strengthening the future of our workforce and our economy, we are bolstering our global competitiveness with China when it’s needed most. I am proud to have secured this funding and look forward to our continued work together with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to further cement Rochester’s place as a global leader in innovation and create long-term economic stability for our region.”

“As majority leader, I have made it my priority to bolster U.S. semiconductor manufacturing to grow jobs Upstate, ensure our competitiveness worldwide, and protect our national security," said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I worked with Congressman Morelle and Senator Gillibrand to secure this funding for RIT to energize their cutting-edge research, while also developing our nation’s next generation of high-quality engineering talent right here in Rochester.”

“Rochester is home to world-class research institutions dedicated to advancing our semiconductor industry. RIT has been at the forefront of critical research and development to help grow this industry and provide the necessary workforce to support it,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have worked with Congressman Morelle and Senator Schumer to secure this funding, which will help ensure that Rochester remains a key player in strengthening the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry.”

“The upgrade of our laboratory facilities, for our students and researchers, will further strengthen our ability to help drive the U.S. to a leadership position in the semiconductor manufacturing industry,” said RIT President David Munson. “Semiconductor research and development underpins critical technologies ranging from artificial intelligence to biomedical sensors. It is essential that government, business, and educational institutions continue on a collaborative path to assure a reliable supply of leading-edge chips that will enable a prosperous and secure future.”

The Rochester Institute of Technology Semiconductor and Microsystems Fabrication Laboratory is a 10,000 square foot clean room space serving as a teaching lab, workforce development training center, and corporate test site. These funds will be used to purchase equipment and instrumentation as part of a major updating and expansion to the facility.

Congressman Morelle, Senator Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand worked in partnership to secure this federal funding as part of the Community Project Funding process in the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Package. Read the full project proposal here.