The Southern Tier is now one step closer to becoming a world leader in lithium-ion battery production. Senator Chuck Schumer on Monday announced Binghamton as a winner of a prestigious federal tech hub designation from the Chips and Science bill.

You couldn't help but feel excitement in the room, not just for Binghamton University, but for the Southern Tier as a whole, a region that once led the state in innovation with companies like IBM; a region that hopes to return to that innovation in the very near future.

"Millions of batteries need to be manufactured. Why not in Broome County? Massive amounts of research needs to continue to make those batteries more efficient and powerful. And why not in Broome County?" said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar.

It was a message heard loud and clear by federal leaders. Following years of research in the field of lithium-ion battery production at Binghamton University, the Southern Tier is now being put on the map.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

"This area used to be so proud that IBM was here, and when IBM shrunk its presence in Endicott, it was a devastating blow to the community. But now, for the first time, we're seeing that whole trend reverse because what's happening here can be every bit as big and is important and as job producing as IBM was in its heyday,” said Schumer.

Binghamton is a winner of the recently created Federal Tech Hub Designation. It’s one of 31 regions in the nation to earn the designation out of 400 applicants across the country.

"We need this kind of money and development and initiative in upstate New York because we have all the talent we need. We need for something like these here. But sometimes we're just not given that opportunity,” said Per Stromhaug, associate vice president of innovation and economic development at BU.

So what does this opportunity mean?

First off, it opens the region and university up to federal funding, potentially to the tune of $75 million. It also strengthens the workforce for private companies like iM3NY, who are already leading the way in battery production.

"I don't care about the money for this one. It's the designation as a hub that will attract people to the region, get industry involved, get more faculty involved, get more workers involved. So the key thing is to get that designation up, and we want to designate on the outside of this building in big letters,” said M. Stanley Whittingham, distinguished professor of chemistry at Binghamton University.

Binghamton was the winner of over $100 million in federal funding last year that will soon bring lithium-ion production and training to the former IBM campus in Endicott.