FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2011

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WESTERN NEW YORK CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING NFTA,TO RECEIVE $2 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING


Housing and Urban Development Grant Will Lead to the Creation of a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development for Erie and Niagara Counties

Plan Will Engage the Buffalo-Niagara Community and Focus On Key Areas Including Housing, Food Access

Schumer: This Investment Will Help Us Map Out A Sustainable Path For The Buffalo-Niagara Region

 

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Western New York will receive $2 million in federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant will be used to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development for both Erie and Niagara counties. The grant has been awarded to The Buffalo Niagara Consortium, a partnership of government, not-for-profit and academic organizations, with the lead applicant being the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC). The Buffalo Niagara Consortium is comprised of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), University at Buffalo Regional Institute, Erie County, Niagara County, City of Buffalo, City of Niagara Falls, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Buffalo (LISC), and Belmont Housing Resources for WNY, Inc.

 

“Creating jobs and redeveloping the Buffalo Niagara region needs to be done in a sustainable way so the fruits of our labor will last for decades to come,” said Schumer. “With this investment, the Buffalo Niagara Consortium can take a lead role in charting the path for the region’s future, helping to create new housing developments, access to locally produced food, and a host of other programs to boost sustainable development.”

 

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development:

 

The Buffalo Niagara Consortium will be awarded $2,000,000 to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development for the Erie and Niagara counties that make up the Buffalo Niagara region. The region seeks to develop adopt sustainable development strategies, fill key gaps in planning and set the stage for a more vital future for Buffalo and Niagara. Funding will support the creation of a Citizen Planning School to build capacity on sustainability issues and public facilitation techniques and hold six regional sustainability visioning sessions.

 

Anticipated Project Benefits: 

  • Support public engagement, knowledge transfer and capacity building through an online forum and open regional dialogue with policy information and analysis, webinars and technical assistance
  • Analyze existing planning documents and hold public planning sessions to develop a Regional Housing Plan, Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Food Access Plan
  • Creation of Implementation Strategies that target specific stakeholders and deliver webinars and technical assistance sessions to stakeholders
  • Creation of project-specific implementation strategies, scenario modeling, and “implementation councils” and updated regional GIS systems.

Core Partners:  The Partners in the sustainability effort include the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), University at Buffalo Regional Institute, Erie County, Niagara County, City of Buffalo, City of Niagara Falls, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Buffalo (LISC), and Belmont Housing Resources for WNY, Inc.

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