Two of the Finger Lakes region’s top institutions — Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Cornell University — are among 35 private colleges in New York receiving major state investments to modernize campuses and boost student opportunities.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the awards Friday as part of a $49 million round of Higher Education Capital Matching Grants (HECap). Hobart and William Smith will receive $5 million to help build a new science building and upgrade surrounding facilities. Cornell University will receive $1.75 million to support library renovations.
“These projects stand for our ongoing commitment to keeping New York at the forefront of education and economic opportunity,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.
The HECap program helps private, not-for-profit colleges invest in critical infrastructure like labs, classrooms, and instructional technology. Schools must match every $1 in state funding with $3 of their own, meaning this round of funding will generate more than $195 million in total capital improvements across New York.
The announcement comes as higher education leaders push to create more hands-on learning opportunities and updated spaces for research and workforce development.
At Hobart and William Smith, the $5 million grant is expected to significantly advance the college’s STEM capabilities. At Cornell, the library renovations are part of the university’s ongoing effort to enhance learning environments and maintain its reputation as a global research leader.
Since the HECap program began in 2005, the state has awarded nearly $370 million to support campus upgrades, leading to over $1.4 billion in total investments statewide.
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