UTICA, N.Y. -- Things are not slowing down at the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica.

Last year, renovations were completed on the second and third floors, and now more will be in the works.

"We're incredibly excited about the news of the $6 million award to the Masonic Medical Research Institute," said Director of Research Maria Kontaridis.

The money was announced by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul in Utica on Tuesday.

She said the state wants to help further the Institute's work.

"This is such an important part of our community," Hochul said. "This campus, the Masonic Campus has been there for over 120 years. This project has been there for over 60, so this is a legacy industry where they're working on so many different aspects of people's lives."

The grant will be used for renovations in the basement which should eventually lead to more jobs.

"We think with the $6 million renovation, the 5,500 square feet at the Masonic Medical Research Institute, we hope that that will be completed within about a year, a year and a half. So we should have an additional 25 to 30 people in the last two years," said Kontaridis.

The hope is bring in more people who can help research areas including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Details on the work need to be finalized, but it should begin within the next 30 days.