Paul Smith's College and Empire State Development

WNBZ news announced this morning that Empire State Development has awarded Paul's Smith College a grant of 2.25 million dollars. $1.5 million for renovation of it's athletic complex and $750,000 for costs associated with the startup of a 4 year nursing program.

There are questions about how PSC came about receiving the grant money. Was it through a grant application or via political connections? The mission of ESD is to help NYS businesses start up a company in New York State; relocate to or establish a presence in New York State; expand already existing operations in New York State; retain and enlarge their work force in New York State and compete more effectively and profitably in the domestic and international marketplace. It's not clearly stated how one goes about receiving their largess.

PSC likely fits into the funding scheme under the category of expanding already existing operations or enlarging their work force. But, realistically, a new nursing program might result in the new hire of 2-3 new full-time instructors and an administrator or 2. In the short term construction workers will be needed.

Why would the State fund a new nursing program in the area when a State Community College (NCCC) in Saranac Lake already has a program? And, funding a new nursing program when finding places in the North Country to place student nurses for training is already difficult. Surely a college that costs over $27,000 a year to attend can raise funds privately from their alumni. There are few families in the Tri-Lakes area that can afford that much tuition. On the other hand, NCCC costs about $10,000 a year for students that live on their own.

Subsidizing private institutions with taxpayers money just doesn't seem kosher. Especially in an area where so many people are already suffering from high taxes.