At long last, the manufacturing sector is reinvesting in Niagara Falls. On Highland Avenue, Globe Specialty Metals reopened this fall after closing six years ago. Thanks to incentives from the Empire State Development Corporation and the New York Power Authority, Globe is creating purified silicon to be used in solar cells. Ashland Advanced Materials has reopened the former SGL Carbon plant on Niagara Falls Boulevard to create batteries for hybrid cars, and fuel cells for clean, renewable energy. The former Union Carbide plant on College Avenue is on its way to becoming the new home for Santarosa Holdings' tire recycling operation.
Yes, manufacturing is making a come back. But now it's geared toward the green collar jobs that will become the foundation of our nation's new economy. Niagara Falls is ahead of the curve, and all of us should be proud of that. Just today, I stood at Niagara Falls High School with a large group of elected officials, NYPA officials and industry and environmental advocates to announce a new program to stimulate job creation in the solar industry through the installation of solar panels at locations throughout New York State, including schools and municipal buildings. We are recognized leaders in the State's new energy policy, which is our best hope to provide sustainable, good-paying jobs for our children and grandchildren.
We're leaders in the future green economy, but we're also leaders in historic preservation. In nearly all of the projects I've just detailed, old buildings are being revitalized for new uses. More and more lately, I've heard people saying that they have visited newly refurbished buildings in Niagara Falls–the Giacomo, Wine on 3rd and the Rapids Theatre, for example–that made them feel like they were in a different city. And you know what? They're right. This is a different city. We'll never forget our past, but we will breathe new life into it.
If it can happen on Main Street, and on Third Street, and on Buffalo Avenue, and on Portage Road, and on Hyde Park Boulevard, then surely it can happen on Rainbow Boulevard with that mother of all white elephants, the Rainbow Mall. We are working tirelessly to transform a building that represents our past failures and disappointments into a state-of-the-art Culinary Institute. With strong support from Senator Schumer and leadership from Dennis Mullen of Empire State Development, we're working cooperatively with developer David Cordish, Niagara County Community College, the Niagara County Legislature and USA Niagara. The Culinary Institute will happen, I am looking forward to cutting the ribbon and opening the doors to an institution that will help to transform the south end, once and for all. It's time to bring the students back to downtown, and every chance I get to do that, I'm going to jump at it.
If we're talking about economic development, we have to mention Niagara Falls Redevelopment. As you know, Senator Schumer recently brokered a meeting where NFR owner Howard Milstein and I talked about how to develop NFR's holdings. I believe that Mr. Milstein is interested in our city, and the two of us agreed to touch base at least once a month to try to move things forward. I can't tell you what, if anything, will come from these discussions. But I can assure you that the lines of communication are open again, and I will do everything I can to encourage NFR to deliver.
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