SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, TONKO ANNOUNCE FINAL CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE FOR $6.4 MILLION FOR WATERVLIET ARSENAL

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U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko today announced final congressional approval for the Department of Defense appropriations bill which includes $6.4 million for the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership's Arsenal Support Initiative (ASPI) in Watervliet. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Tonko aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for these projects in this year's spending bill.

"This is terrific news for the Arsenal," said Schumer.  "This funding is a winwin because it will help attract new businesses to the area and deliver good paying jobs.  Over the years ASPI funding has helped bring more than twenty companies and over 250 jobs to the site.  And, just this year the Congressional Budget Office estimated the annual economic impact of the ASPI investments at $95 million in jobs and services.   I know that Tony Gaetano and his team will continue to use this funding to bring new companies and jobs to the Watervliet Arsenal."

"This is a great investment for the Capital Region," Senator Gillibrand said. "These federal dollars will help redevelop unused military arsenal facilities to attract new businesses to the Capital Region, create new jobs and help rebuild our economy.  I will continue working with Senator Schumer and Congressman Tonko to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government."

"I am proud that we were able to secure this funding for the Watervliet Arsenal," said Rep. Paul Tonko. "This will help the Arsenal continue its very successful programs which have turned unused military space into vibrant high technology businesses, thus creating jobs and fostering new economic development. While the Arsenal continues to be the primary producer of large caliber cannons for the Department of Defense, it has also been transformed through ASPI into a thriving private sector technology park."

The Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership would receive $6.4 million for its Arsenal Support Program Initiative. The federal investment will help support building renovations, site planning, job training and marketing programs to help attract new businesses to the underused Army arsenal in Watervliet.

 

The Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense passed the House last week and passed the Senate this weekend. The legislation will now be sent to the President for signature.