BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in Buffalo Friday to highlight several economic investments in Western New York.
The biggest announcement is that SUNY Buffalo will be home to 'Empire AI'. Empire AI is a group of public and private partners that will work together to build and utilize a new state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center that will be located at the University at Buffalo. The new center will bring innovation, be responsible for research and economic development.
More than $400 million in public and private funding has been committed to create this new center. The funding includes up to $275 million in a NYS grant and other funding.
That won't be the only supercomputer center in WNY.
Governor Hochul also announced that Tesla, which already has a gigafactory at Riverbend in Buffalo, will install its $500 million Dojo supercomputer that has the power to process millions of terabytes of data from Tesla's electric vehicles. The computer will be housed at Riverbend.
Hochul's office says the data will allow Tesla to improve the safety and engineering of its full self-driving and advanced driver assisted vehicles.
Other economic announcements made by Hochul include:
- The City of Tonawanda will receive $10 million in funding for revitalizing downtown and waterfront assets in an effort to bring in more residents and visitors to the area.
- The Town of Aurora receive funds for the Hamlet of West Falls to capitalize on its historic role along Cazenovia Creek and make it more inviting to visitors. Among the projects that the funds will go towards renovating the library and community center, a unique general store and blueberry farm venue, diverse housing complex and enhanced concert and art center.
- The Village of Gowanda has already begun revitalizing its downtown. The new funding will help go towards restoring the historic Hollywood Theatre; improvements to New York and Lake Erie Railroad excursion, the clean-up and redevelopment of a federal Superfund site into Gateway Park and the development of a micro-brewery.
- The governor also announced the City of Buffalo will receive $12.25 million dollars in Federal Temporary Assistance for Need Families to help drive anti-poverty initiatives.
- Roswell Park will receive $4 million in funding to finance new mobile breast and prostate screening vans and expand screening programs.