Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,875,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take on a broad range of civil works projects for the Finger Lakes region. The federal dollars will help support job creation, rebuild and strengthen critical infrastructure, and enhance security for the Finger Lakes area. The investments are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Senators Schumer and Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year.
“Investing in the Rochester Finger Lake’s infrastructure is wise in the short and long run,” said Schumer. “The upkeep of the Mount Morris Dam is critical to the well-being of downstream communities, including the City of Rochester. This is a great use for the economic recovery funds and will improve the quality of life for residents throughout the area.”
“This is great news for the Finger Lakes Region,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “These federal dollars will go a long way to upgrade and restore infrastructure across the Finger Lakes Region. This will create jobs across the region and promote long-term economic growth. During these tough economic times, I will continue to work with Senator Schumer to ensure that New York receives its fair share of federal dollars.”
The funding will support job creation the following public works projects at Mount Morris Dam:
- $1,000,000 to repair the Mount Morris Dam visitor center access road;
- $650,000 to repair to repair road access to buildings at the dam facility and improve safety;
- $225,000 to remove debris material from the dam to ensure public safety and reduce flood damages to surrounding communities and farmland.
The funding for these Finger Lakes region public works projects is part of a $4.6 billion investment for the Corps of Engineers to improve infrastructure and safety across America – an investment expected to create 57,400 construction jobs directly and an additional 64,000 indirect jobs to supply and support construction projects.
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are strong supporters of President Obama’s economic plan. The investment will help create or save more than 200,000 jobs in New York, while laying the foundation of future economic growth with critical investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, health care technology and education.