Article Written by Travis Applebee, Marketing and Communications Manager, Griffiss Institute
In late October, I attended the inaugural Steve DiMeo Speaker Series at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. There, a panel of leaders from research, education, and industry in the area spoke about efforts to shape the Mohawk Valley into a hub of innovation and economic development. Between attending this event and beginning my work at the Griffiss Institute mid-October, I’ve experienced a complete paradigm shift in how I view the future of our local community.
I’ve lived in Central New York for my entire life. There are many things I enjoy about this area: our easy access to the beautiful Adirondacks, a reasonable cost of living, the lack of overcrowding and traffic, and four distinct seasons, allowing for a wide variety of outdoor hobbies. However, economic growth and prosperity were never on that list. In my mind, it was a weakness of the Mohawk Valley offset by other benefits.
I think it was the accumulation of small experiences growing up in the area that led me to have this opinion. Seeing “Last one out of Utica, please turn out the lights” bumper stickers on cars. The jets I used to excitedly watch fly over my house stopped coming when Griffiss Air Force Base closed. I drove by long-abandoned warehouses and factories daily, looking at the faded logos on their sides and wondering what had once been produced there.
Heather Hage said during the panel discussion, “The message that we got as kids growing up in the Mohawk Valley was: Get yourself educated, and get out of here.” That was the advice I had received. I watched most of my peers graduate college and move to other parts of the country. But, as she continued, “I hope we never send that message to a young person in this community again.”
Eventually, I became apathetic. Nowhere is perfect. I’m living a happy life, and the area’s economic decline is what it is. Thankfully, and unbeknownst to me, talented people and organizations have been working to reverse this trend. They’ve already made great progress and have solid plans to continue building on their successes. At the speaker series, I heard about:
- The novel defense research taking place at the Air Force Research Lab, where work is being done in quantum computing, UAS countermeasures, and more.
- The Masonic Medical Research Institute, where breakthrough research is occurring to help fight heart, neurocognitive, and autoimmune diseases.
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s rapid expansion, including the establishment of 10 new research centers in fields like artificial intelligence and robotics, terahertz communications, humanitarian engineering, and semiconductors. There’s also the Marcy Nanocenter, where Wolfspeed Silicon Carbide Power Solutions & Materials resides.
- The host of the event, Mohawk Valley EDGE, whose sole mission is to strengthen and grow the Mohawk Valley’s economy. Among other projects, EDGE was instrumental in bringing the Chobani plant to Rome.
My first two weeks at Griffiss Institute have been just as eye-opening. During a tour of the Innovare Advancement Center, I saw quantum communications research labs, UAS test facilities, and collaboration areas where STEM students from across the country meet. I’ve discovered a myriad of tech accelerator competitions, experimental learning opportunities, research partnerships, and after-school science programs. I had no idea so much is being done to foster and attract talented people to the Mohawk Valley, and that cutting-edge research and development is already underway here.
I’m no longer apathetic. Being aware of the great things happening to develop the Mohawk Valley into a leader of innovation and science, I’m now inspired and proud to help work towards that goal. Still, I can’t help but think about how many others are still unaware of the great things happening to improve the place we live. I hope I’m able to help people see this place with new eyes, like I have myself, and elicit more support towards developing our home.
What can you do to help? Consider donating time or money to the institutions and organizations I’ve mentioned. Share news and announcements on social media of the good work they’re doing. The next time you hear someone speak bleakly of business in the area, help inform them of the great changes taking place. The more people we can get working together on this common goal, the more likely we are to succeed, to the benefit of us all.
