Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2009

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL INCLUDES $950,000 FOR MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT

Funding Would Revamp Main Street Pedestrian Mall, Revitalize Downtown for Future Development Opportunities

Bill Set to Clear Senate Next Week

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Omnibus appropriations bill includes $950,000 for the city of Buffalo. The funding would be used to revitalize Buffalo's historic Main Street and boost development prospects across the city. The bill will now proceed to the House and Senate Floors as the next steps in the appropriations process.

"This is terrific news for the City of Buffalo that will bring new life to Downtown," said Schumer. "Investing in the revitalization of Downtown will boost economic development prospects across the city, bringing jobs, business and economic prowess to the entire region. These dollars are much-needed and much-deserved and I will fight to ensure that this funding goes through.”

“Revitalizing downtown’s Main Street is a key part of Buffalo’s economic growth,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “New York needs all the federal dollars we can get to help support the State’s infrastructure and create jobs for our communities. I will continue to work with Senator Schumer to ensure that New York receives its fair share.”

The $950,000 in federal funds will be used to design and engineer the preliminary facets of Phase II of the Main Street Multimodal Access and Revitalization project. These include redesigning the pedestrian mall section from Chippewa Street to Church Street in downtown Buffalo and will enable the return of vehicular traffic and revitalize economic development on this major city artery.

The House is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow with the Senate set to vote next week.

###

Resource Center