Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2012

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.1 MILLION EDA FUNDING FOR CITY OF KINGSTON AFTER HURRICANE IRENE AND LEE – KINGSTON WILL USE FUNDING FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AFTER STORMS

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce that City of Kingston Has Received $1.1 Million EDA Disaster Grant for Washington Avenue Tunnel Restoration

Rain From Irene & Lee Flooded Streets, Caused Severe Damage to Washington Ave, And Caused Tunnel to Collapse – This Main Thoroughfare Will Now Be Repaired to Facilitate Flow of Commercial & Residential Traffic

Senators: EDA Disaster Relief to Help Strengthen Businesses Against Future Storms

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $ 1,120,000 in federal funding was awarded to the City of Kingston in Ulster County by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Relief Opportunity program. The City of Kingston will use the funding to make critical infrastructure repairs that will restore access to commercial and small businesses in the Kingston city center. These efforts aim to minimize the financial strain in the region from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

“This federal EDA investment will help the City of Kingston pave the road to economic recovery and help local workers and small business owners who are still rebuilding after last year’s storms and floods,” said Senator Schumer. “I applaud the EDA for delivering this funding to repair the main thoroughfare and a tunnel on Washington Avenue in Kingston. This funding will not only help businesses and individuals recover from previous storms, but help strengthen the Hudson Valley economy against future storms.”

“This is an incredibly important investment to help rebuild our community after natural disasters,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This is an opportunity to help the City of Kingston rebuild and improve infrastructure that is critical for our local businesses.”

Specifically, this EDA investment supports the repair and stabilization of the Washington Avenue tunnel in Kingston. Flood waters from Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene caused a sinkhole and tunnel failure on Washington Street. As a result, local business and commercial traffic in this vital and busy intersection has been rerouted, which has created a financial strain for businesses in the downtown city center areas.

This project is funded through the FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity administered through the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Each disaster recovery investment is intended to support a community’s long-term recovery, spur job creation, leverage private investment, and promote disaster resiliency.

###

Resource Center