Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they secured $18,200,000 for critical local projects across the Southern Tier in the FY2024 spending bill. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending requests.
“These projects stretch to every corner of the Southern Tier, from rejuvenating Binghamton’s downtown through a revitalized Henry Street Corridor to upgrading Ithaca’s Airport and ensuring Southern Tier residents have access to clean drinking water. With this funding, we’re breathing new life into the region, all while creating good-paying jobs,” said Senator Schumer. “This major federal investment will bring the region’s tourist economy to new heights, with upgraded infrastructure to help the Southern Tier soar. I am proud to have secured over $18 million in federal investment that will help lay the foundation for a more resilient future in the Southern Tier.”
“Today, we are committing to putting millions toward revitalizing Binghamton’s Henry Street Corridor, developing housing for our veterans, upgrading the Ithaca airport, and making sure every single person in the Southern Tier has access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have fought to secure this funding, and I’ll continue to work tirelessly to make sure the Southern Tier’s families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.”
A full list of funded projects is below:
$5,000,000 for the City of Binghamton for Henry Street Corridor Improvements:
The funds will be used to complete reconstruction and streetscape improvements on Henry Street in the City of Binghamton to support a multi-modal thoroughfare between Binghamton’s downtown core and Mirabito Stadium, including new curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes, and green infrastructure.
$4,200,000 for the Town of Oneonta for the West Main Street Water & Sewer Extension Project:
The funds will be used to install 7,000 linear feet of sewer and water main along West Main Street in Oneonta to serve residential and commercial users and promote economic growth.
$2,000,000 for the Town of Friendship for a Water System Improvements Project:
The funds will go toward the construction of a new water storage tank and the replacement of several sections of water main to address various age-related deficiencies and violations noted by the local health department.
$2,000,000 for the Town of Chenango for Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements:
The funds will be used for improvements to the Town of Chenango’s Northgate wastewater treatment plant to help meet federal and state requirements to reduce phosphorus loading to the Chesapeake Bay.
$1,500,000 for Ithaca Tompkins International Airport’s Emergency Response Building:
The funds will go toward a new joint-use Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting/Snow Removal Equipment building to replace the current facility and to adequately house the airport’s emergency response and snow removal vehicles.
$1,250,000 for the City of Norwich for Sanitary Sewer System Repairs:
The funds will be usedto repair sanitary sewer piping in the City of Norwich to prevent further seepage, as well as non-sanitary infiltration and inflow in the system.
$1,250,000 for the City of Hornell for Water Pollution Control Plant Improvements:
The funds will go toward improvements to the Hornell Water Pollution Control Plant, including replacement of pumps, mixers, anaerobic digester covers, and related improvements.
$1,000,000 for New Homes for Veterans in Broome County:
The funds will be used to help construct tiny houses, each containing two living units, for veterans on a currently empty residential lot in downtown Binghamton.