Governor confirms full $450 million in funding for Upstate Hospital's new emergency department
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Governor Kathy Hochul is granting Upstate University Hospital the full $450 million requested for its new emergency department, her office confirmed to NewsChannel 9.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 6, her office said: 'Every New Yorker deserves access to high-quality health care where and when they need it most. With Micron on the horizon, Central New York is poised for tremendous growth and SUNY Upstate must be ready to serve the tens of thousands of people who will call this region home. That is why Governor Hochul worked with the Legislature to deliver a budget that protects access to care and positions SUNY Upstate to meet the needs of the future with $450 million for its proposed expansion.'
The $450 million allocation is more than the $200 million Governor Hochul initially proposed in a draft version of the budget. She stood by the initial amount in two interviews with NewsChannel 9, once in January and again in April.
All along, the State Legislature advocated for the higher amount and included the full figure in both budget drafts passed by each chamber.
The hospital's plan is to build an emergency department four times the current size in a yet-to-be-finalized location across the street from the facility. The expansion will come with more beds, more capacity for mental health emergencies and an enhanced burn unit.
One key desire is to separate walk-ins with less serious emergencies from the Level 1 Trauma patients who are rushed in.
In March, leaders from Upstate Medical University discussed the project on NewsChannel 9's Newsmakers.
'What's behind it is an incredibly deep infrastructure of specialists that are on 24/7,' said Dr. Robert Corona, explaining the complexities of any emergency department deserving of the Level 1 Trauma title. 'You have head trauma, you need a neurosurgeon. You have cardiac trauma, you need a heart surgeon. Abdominal trauma, you need general traumatic surgeons.'
'You have to have a backup team,' said Dr. Dewan, 'because trauma often comes in multiples.'
He said, 'That's why there's only five trauma centers in the state that do Level 1 trauma for children and adults. We're very fortunate to have one in Syracuse.'
Tuesday, State Senator Chris Ryan was the first to indicate that the full funding was moving forward.
State Senator Chris Ryan's Full Statement
'Central New York is on the move—and with $119 million invested in critical water infrastructure directly tied to Micron, and $450 million in full funding for SUNY Upstate Medical University, we're laying the foundation for sustained, long-term growth. These investments are not just numbers—they're a signal that New York is serious about meeting the demands of a booming regional economy. From preparing our water systems to support high-tech manufacturing, to expanding our medical research and healthcare capacity, we're making sure Central New York can handle the growth we've worked so hard to achieve. These bold steps are about more than progress—they're about jobs, innovation, and securing a thriving future for the families and communities of this region.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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