OCCC to receive $15-million for new Newburgh branch campus

MIDDLETOWN-Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) announced the state budget includes a $15 million allocation toward the construction of a new Orange County Community College Newburgh campus. The facility will offer a new dental technician program and continuing education for nurses. Senator Larkin said, "Not only is this a great program for the college, but the addition of a large scale dental laboratory in the Newburgh area will provide a training environment as well as job opportunities." Larkin said the dental laboratory market in the United States is worth approximately $30 billion per year. The number of dental laboratories nationwide is about 12,500; however, there are only about 6,000 certified dental technicians in the U.S. This leaves about 6,500 laboratories without access to a certified dental technician. Only about 200 new technicians are entering the marketplace each year, not nearly keeping up with demand. Larkin was also able to secure another $809,000 for the master plan and design services for the projec