Rochester Auto Dealers Invest $1M in MCC's New Advanced Tech Center

Funding will name multiple instructional and student-facing automotive spaces in the new facility.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:55am

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The Rochester Automobile Dealers Association and a consortium of regional automotive partners have invested $1 million to support hands-on instruction at Monroe Community College's new Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center, set to open in fall 2026. The funding will go toward naming several automotive-focused spaces in the $69 million, 110,000-square-foot facility, aimed at strengthening workforce development and ensuring students train on up-to-date, industry-relevant technology.

Why it matters

This investment from local auto dealers helps ensure MCC students graduate ready to step directly into today's evolving automotive workforce, as the college works to provide the necessary facilities and equipment to prepare the next generation of automotive technicians and engineers.

The details

The $1 million investment from the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association and regional partners will fund the naming of several key automotive-focused spaces in the new Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center, including the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association Wing, Alternative Fuel Automotive Lab, General Motors Automotive Lab, Toyota Automotive Lab, and a Multi-Manufacturer Automotive Lab. These named spaces will advance training in emerging fuel technologies, reinforce manufacturer-aligned instruction, and provide experience across diverse vehicle platforms.

  • The new $69 million, 110,000-square-foot Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center is being built on MCC's Brighton campus and will replace the college's current facility on West Henrietta Road.
  • The new center is set to open in fall 2026.

The players

Monroe Community College

A public community college located in Rochester, New York, offering associate degree programs and workforce development training.

Rochester Automobile Dealers Association

A consortium of regional automotive dealerships that has invested $1 million to support the new Advanced Technology Center at Monroe Community College.

Sydor Optics

The company that has lent its name to the new Advanced Technology Center being built on MCC's Brighton campus.

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What’s next

The new Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center is scheduled to open in fall 2026, providing state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for automotive training programs at Monroe Community College.

The takeaway

This $1 million investment from local auto dealers demonstrates the strong partnership between industry and education, ensuring MCC's automotive programs stay aligned with the latest technologies and workforce needs in the evolving automotive sector.