WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- Erie Community College broke ground Wednesday on its new Nanotechnology Building, planned for the North Campus in Williamsville.

The energy-efficient building will house ECC's nanotechnology associates degree program, which is underway this semester thanks to more than $5 million in grant money from SUNY 2020.

ECC is the only place in the region right now to offer a two-year degree in nanotechnology.

"We do know that the training that is necessary for Western New York and the Buffalo region must include nanotechnology and all that advanced manufacturing, which is where the jobs are going to be in the future," said ECC President Jack Quinn. "With this addition on this campus today, we bring Erie Community where it belongs and that's on the cutting edge of technology, training and education."

The facility is set to be completed by January 2017.