ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A pair of local defense projects have emerged as finalists in the highly competitive Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, announced today by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Projects from the Upstate Defense Consortium and Cornell University advanced to the final round of consideration, and the contest winner will receive $5 million in federal investment funding.

“The projects would help train and connect workers to good-paying jobs in microelectronics and aerospace, boost research and innovation in these fields in Upstate NY, and strengthen supply chains in high-tech manufacturing vital to our national security,” said Schumer in a prepared statement. 

Provided one of the local projects is selected as the winner, Schumer communities like Syracuse, Rome, and Ithaca could see economic growth as a result.