Amount Requested: $16,500,000
The requested funds would be used for construction of a state-of-the-art federal research facility for grape genetic research at the Cornell University Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva, New York. The Agricultural Research Service established the Grape Genetics Research Unit at Geneva, NY in October 2005 to study the gamut of grapes grown in the United States, including those grown in California's semiarid valleys and in cold northeastern states. The $7 billion New York wine and grape industry supports more than 900 family owned vineyards, 206 wineries, and 3,700 jobs.  New York is the third largest wine producing state in the country, with the second largest wine consuming population.  Three million people visit New York wineries each year, with over one-third of visitors coming from out-of-state.  Research is one of the keys to continued growth of the wine and grape industry.