U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten
Gillibrand and Conressman 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 win-win 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.