The Graduate College of Union University received a $1 million taxpayer-funded shot in the arm Thursday to jump-start fundraising for a new headquarters the school wants to build at a defunct shopping plaza.
The money, member-item spending steered to the college by state Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna, will go toward construction of a 30,000-square-foot, three-story building the Galesi Group plans for the site of the old Big N plaza on Nott Street.
“It's a start,” graduate school President Sue Lehrman said, adding the college has sent out a number of requests for support from governments, private foundations and other donors “that we think are going to come to fruition soon.”
The graduate school is based at Union College, with administrative offices at the Lamont House, and uses campus classrooms. Lehrman said the school, which has 700 students, needs its own home.
Earlier this year, the college received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Senate. Galesi plans to build four structures on the land. The Capital District YMCA plans to build a new 59,000-square-foot gymnasium and community center at the site. Two other buildings, one for medical offices and another for corporate space, are also slated for the land.