Erie Community College broke ground Wednesday for its nanotechnology building.
The nanotech program is starting off in Building B and will move into the new annex, using nearly $6 million from SUNY and another million-dollar grant when it's finished in January. The new annex will be solar powered and use an energy recovery system to cut energy use and costs.
The program already has 54 students enrolled and the college says that might triple soon.
Our average age of student here at ECC is 27 years old, average. That includes the 18-year old students who are coming out," College President Jack Quinn told Wednesday's gathering.
We heard from a gentleman today, just here, who is in his third career. And, he's decided to come back to Erie Community College to launch that third career."
For the event, several students spoke and they reflected the wide age spread of those going into nanotechnology, including a UB grad who is back in school for this career.
ECC is working with Genesee and Jamestown Community Colleges to offer students from those schools that final high-tech semester needed for their nanotech programs.
