Mineola, NY-Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and the legislature unanimously approved this week a resolution to refurbish the county's first courthouse and design a new life science building at Nassau Community College.

"For more than a year, I have worked to ensure that the Life Science Center project at the college would go from a vision to a reality," said Jacobs. "The return on the investment is that Nassau County will retain its young, talented workforce here at home, and will fill the growing need for professionals who are tops in their field. The Life Science Building at Nassau Community College offers students that opportunity."

Legislators unanimously approved $63.5 million in bonding, part of County Executive Thomas Suozzi's two-year $286-million building consolidation plan, to restore the historic old courthouse. Additional construction to the edifice includes a two floor annex which will house the county executive offices and offices for all 19 legislators on the first floor and is expected to take 16 months to complete.

Legislators also approved approximately $907,000 in costs for the design of a new life science building at the college and a promise of $20 million towards construction costs to match the $20 million that the school will receive in state funding.

"The refurbishment and renovation of the old courthouse is an important step towards the County's real estate consolidation plan," said Jacobs.