Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $12,290,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take on a broad range of civil works projects for Western New York. The federal dollars will help support job creation, rebuild and strengthen critical infrastructure, and enhance security for Western New York. The investments are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Senators Schumer and Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year.
“Investing in Western New York’s infrastructure is wise in the short and long run,” said Schumer. “These funds will repair our aging infrastructure and create jobs to stimulate the local economy. This is a great use for the economic recovery funds and will improve the quality of life for residents and lay the foundation for future economic growth in sectors such as renewable energy, health care technology and education.”
“This is great news for Western New York,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “These federal dollars will go a way to upgrade and restore infrastructure across Western New York. This will create jobs across the region and promote long-term economic growth. During these tough economic times, I will continue to work with Senator Schumer to ensure that New York receives its fair share of federal dollars.”
The funding will support job creation and a broad range of civil works projects for Western New York, including operations and maintenance projects, construction projects and investigations for needed projects.
The following investments will go toward Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects for Western New York:
Black Rock Channel and Tonawanda Harbor
- $1,485,000 for dredging maintenance to improve safety and reduce vessel costs associated with light-loading;
- $400,000 to repair Bird Island Pier and improve safety and reduce shoreline erosion
- $605,000 to repair the lower operating gates sill of the Black Rock Lock to reduce the risk of failure and turbulence to vessels awaiting lockage, reduce leakage and the costs to de-water during seasonal maintenance;
Buffalo Harbor
- $500,000 to repair the Buffalo Harbor South Breakwater to improve public safety and reduce shoreline erosion;
- $100,000 to repair the confined disposal facility to prevent leakage of contaminated materials;
NFSS Lewiston
- $7,750,000 to design and install security systems and structures compliant with Department of Defense and for a building demolishment;
- $250,000 to develop a digital project records database
Additionally, $1,000,000 will go toward completing a supplemental field investigation for the Towanda Landfill; and $820,000 to increase navigation safety and reduce vessel costs associated with light-loading for Dunkirk Harbor.
The funding for these Western New York public works projects is part of a $4.6 billion investment for the Corps of Engineers to improve infrastructure and safety across America – an investment expected to create 57,400 construction jobs directly and an additional 64,000 indirect jobs to supply and support construction projects.
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are strong supporters of President Obama’s economic plan. The investment will help create or save more than 200,000 jobs in New York, while laying the foundation of future economic growth with critical investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, health care technology and education.