Following the announcement of Wells College’s closure, State Senator Rachel May is pushing her bill to help communities like Aurora when a college shuts down.
“My heart goes out to the students and the staff and the village itself,” May said on FLX Morning. “This is a real change for everybody in terms of their identity and their future.”
Senate Bill S5234 would provide technical assistance for municipalities that have seen a college or university close. Specifically, it would direct the Department of State, in coordination with other departments, to work with municipalities, upon their request, on such things as workforce transition and development, attracting new employers and economic opportunities, and developing plans for the former school’s land and buildings.
May introduced the bill in February 2023, following the announcement that Cazenovia College would close. Cazenovia was in May’s former district.
“If a big storm hits a locality, the governor can declare a state of emergency but that doesn’t happen with a college closing but it’s kind of got the same effect, sometimes,” May continued.
May created the bill after the closure of Cazenovia College which, at the time, was in her district.
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