Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2012

SCHUMER, PICENTE ANNOUNCE GRIFFISS AIRPORT SET TO RECEIVE $5.3 MILLION IN FAA INVESTMENT FOR CRITICAL TAXIWAY REHABILITATION – SENATOR PUSHED FEDS TO RELEASE KEY FUNDING STUCK AT FAA

Schumer and County Executive Picente Announce That Griffiss Will Receive $5.3 Million in Federal Aviation Administration Funding That Has Been Delayed; Griffiss Now Set To Begin Construction Of New Runway To Improve Safety & Accommodate Aircraft Maintenance Work

Schumer Has Long Fought For A.I.P Funding & Infrastructure Improvements At Griffiss– Funds Help Make Airport More Commuter & Business-Friendly, Attract New Jobs & Industries

Schumer: Griffiss Airport Now Set To Create Dozens of Construction Jobs & Boost Local Economy

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced that Griffiss Airport will receive a long-awaited $5.3 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) via Airport Improvement Program Funding (AIP). The funding was authorized over a year ago when the FAA authorized the County’s design specifications for runway infrastructure and safety improvements, but as of recent was not cleared by FAA. Schumer’s office contacted and pushed the FAA to quickly release the allocated funding that the County was promised, so that it could move forward with its first phase of taxiway rehabilitation on time.

“It’s great news that the Griffiss Airport and Oneida County will now receive the long-awaited $5.3 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding, on which runway improvements and approximately 50 construction jobs rely,” said Schumer. “I pushed the FAA to release this previously allocated investment that was being held up so that the Griffiss Airport runway and safety improvements would not be further delayed, and I’m pleased to have helped this revitalizing construction project move forward. The airport is an economic engine for the Mohawk Valley, and these funds are the motor oil that helps keep it running strong.”

“We appreciate the support of the Federal Aviation Administration and their work to get this money to Oneida County,” said County Executive Picente. “The transformation that is taking place at Griffiss is a critical piece of our economic development strategy. Through the work of Sen. Schumer, Congressman Hanna, our County Board of Legislators, and all of our partners, we are maximizing the potential of this asset and moving forward into a new era of opportunity.”

“Today’s announcement represents another significant step forward for Griffiss airport and all of Upstate New York. Griffiss is among the region’s best assets and these investments are critical to its success and ability to leverage economic development,” said Congressman Richard Hanna

Oneida County and Griffiss Airport received news of the federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program last year, and since then, the County has put out bids for the construction of the runway project. Oneida County needed the funding to be allocated within the month in order to avoid reentering the entire bidding process all over again, which would have delayed this revitalizing project. This construction work is expected to spur the hiring of 50 people in Oneida County, and Schumer, Picente and Hanna are pleased to have helped move this project forward.

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