SJC Receives Nearly $1m in Grants for HTM Program

December 12, 2013

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. DECEMBER 13, 2013 — St. Joseph's College (SJC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded nearly $1 million in grants from the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) to market and expand its new Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Program.

"Traditionally known as a school for teachers, St. Joseph's College is undergoing a transformation, which we hope will help meet the growing employment needs of the region," said SJC President S. Elizabeth Hill, C.S.J., J.D. "With this grant, we will be able to expand our new offerings in the fields of hospitality and tourism and create a more certain future for our students and the Long Island region, and for that, we are so thankful.

The College will use the funds to expand its HTM program, the only four-year HTM degree program offered on Long Island, which was created to train and educate the future workforce. To further enhance the learning experience, the College has formed collaborative partnerships with hotels, hospitals, eco- and agri-tourism industries, businesses, non-profits, transportation entities, educational institutions and local, county and state government, to offer internships and spur job creation and economic growth on Long Island and in other areas of the greater New York region.

In addition, the College plans to renovate and redesign existing space at SJC Long Island to house the new program as well as create a HTM business incubator. The on-campus renovations are expected to be complete in 2016.

The REDC was established in 2011 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for each of the 10 regions of New York State. Over the past three years, the regional councils have awarded billions of dollars for job creation and community development.  These councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government and non-governmental organizations.

For more information about SJC's HTM program, contact Dr. Gail Lamberta, associate dean and co-chair of the HTM program, at 631.687.1285 or visit sjcny.edu/htm.