The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill has a clear mission that encompasses a broad range of initiatives and activities: to engage the substantial resources of SUNY Cobleskill in collaboration with regional partners to enhance community and economic vitality in rural New York.
Through its three distinct centers, the Institute addresses the region’s most pressing issues to develop and enact sustainable solutions. SUNY Cobleskill students and faculty are at the fore of community partnerships and coalitions, adding their expertise to that of their partners to support economic development initiatives.
With robust student involvement, the Institute creates boundless new immersive learning opportunities both on and off campus. Each of the five centers complements SUNY Cobleskill’s academic programs to support research opportunities for faculty and students as well as internships and applied learning opportunities.
Contact the institute to inquire about collaboration, propose a project or request more information.
IRV named Mohawk Valley Entrepreneurship Assistance Center
The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill is now designated as the Mohawk Valley Entrepreneurship Assistance Center under a grant from Empire State Development (ESD) to support area entrepreneurs with business creation and growth, sales, access to financing, and job creation.
The Center for Entrepreneur Endeavors
The Center for Entrepreneur Endeavors encourages new business development, job creation, and an enlivened local economy through collaborations between SUNY Cobleskill students, faculty, and staff and the surrounding non-profit and business communities.
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Farm and Food Entrepreneurship cultivates farm-centric and food-centric businesses to ensure the full and profitable use of the region’s considerable natural resources.
The Center for Economic and Cultural Development
The Center for Economic and Cultural Development coordinates collaboration among the SUNY Cobleskill Arts and Humanities faculty and regional arts and cultural organizations to cultivate art and culture as drivers of economic development.
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The Center for Alternative Career Development
The Alternative Career Development Center develops and offers credentials to gain relevant skills that are needed in today's workforce. SUNY Cobleskill actively collaborates with organizations to deliver industry demanded education to build our regional economy and match the needs of both students and industry today and in the future.
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USDA Agriculture Innovation Center
In 2021, the Institute was awarded funds to create an Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC), which will work in conjunction with the Farm and Food Business Incubator. The support offered to program participants will include value-added product and process development; market and value chain development; facilitation of public and private investment; and access to legal advice. Participants will have access and support in using existing and newly available incubator facilities operated by the Institute for Rural Vitality on the SUNY Cobleskill campus, including:
- Dairy Processing Center, for development and production of value-added dairy products
- A USDA-inspected meat processing facility
- Commercial kitchens
- Schoharie Fresh online farmer’s market
- Carriage House Café & General Store for conducting retail pilots and market research
- Packaging equipment
Leadership
Dr. Marion A. Terenzio, Institute Council Chair
Dr. Scott Ferguson, Executive Director
Dr. Darcy Medica, Institute Council
Wendy Gilman, Institute Council
Contact the institute to inquire about collaboration, propose a project or request more information.