OBSERVER Photo by Mary Heyl Kevin Kearns, Ph.D., Vice President of Advancement, Engagement and Economic Development, shared an update on engagement and economic development during Wednesday’s College Council meeting.

At Wednesday’s College Council meeting, Vice president of Advancement, Engagement and Economic Development Kevin P. Kearns, Ph.D. announced that the Fredonia Technology Incubator (FTI) was awarded a five-year grant from New York’s Regional Economic Development Council.

“We were notified on Tuesday that the Technology Incubator received state CFA support of $625,000, which is a big deal for us,” Kearns stated. Kearns sits on the advisory board for the FTI, which was founded in 2007 and has already assisted 20 business start-ups that have created over 60 jobs in the region.

Currently, the FTI, located at 214 Central Avenue in Dunkirk, is home to nine start-up companies that focus on arts and technology.

Current clients include Antefact Graphic Design, Advanced Data Research Lab, video game developer KM3 Studios, L2 Engineering D.P.C., NexNest, which creates a web platform for landlords to secure tenants, Play and Learn Children’s Museum, Playground Academy, Power Fitness Systems and Venture Productions.

Importantly, the FTI provides much more than work space for these start-ups. These new businesses have access to a number of resources including administrative and business services, mentoring, networking, professional consulting, access to capital support and more.

Kearns explained that the grant will renew the Incubator for the next five years, which is great news for both the businesses located within the FTI, as well as the college. “Over the last six years or so, through the Incubator alone, we’ve brought in over a million and a half dollars,” Kearns stated. “I feel very good about that, and we’re very happy to have that state support.”

The FTI was one of more than a dozen recipients in Chautauqua County recently awarded a grant through the state’s consolidated funding application. As a region, western New York was awarded $66 million from the Regional Economic Development Council, which includes the FTI’s award. In particular, the $625,000 award for the FTI is through Empire State Development’s Business Incubator Program, which awards five-year grants to eligible business incubators in order to accelerate the development of early stage companies through targeted support, structure and resources.