JOHNSTOWN - An additional $500,000 in federal funding secured over the weekend by two local legislators will enable Fulton-Montgomery Community College to expand its Center for Engineering and Technology, officials said this morning.

FMCC Chief Advancement Officer William Easterly said the funding, secured in separate bills for $200,000 and $300,000 by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, is now awaiting President Barack Obama's signature, which is expected.

The center, which is expected to offer classes to students in fall 2010, includes a set of classes focused on engineering, technology and similar fields. College officials also will create a "clean room" and will purchase technologically modern equipment to aid in student learning, Easterly said.

The additional funding secured this weekend will allow the college to add more technology to the center and will secure faculty and staff positions at the center for a second year, Easterly said.

Tonko has praised the project repeatedly at various appearances, saying it will help educate residents of Fulton and Montgomery counties to get jobs in burgeoning technology fields.

Easterly praised Tonko and Schumer's dedication to improving education in the area. He said the college has been working with the legislators to secure the funding but had not budgeted for it.

"Without this funding, the center would have been a good project, but now we will be able to expand. This [funding] puts the project on much more solid ground," he said.

Easterly also praised Tonko and Schumer's ability to work together to benefit the college and its students.

"We have to great supporters in Washington that work very well together," he said. "By taking that approach they were able to make a really significant difference for us."

In a news release, Schumer said he will continue to push for funding for upstate New York for technological education and improvements.

It is critical that we provide students with the opportunity to succeed in math and science," Schumer said. "The new Center for Engineering and Technology will give our students a leg up, helping them gain an edge in the increasingly competitive job market. Furthermore, this investment will promote economic growth in technology-intensive industries in the region."

FMCC President Dustin Swanger could not be reached for comment.

Kayleigh Karutis covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.