CUOMO AND GLICKMAN SPEND DAY TWO OF STATEWIDE TOUR BIKING AND BOATING ALONG ERIE CANAL; CUOMO, GLICKMAN, REYNOLDS AND SLAUGHTER ANNOUNCE $38.5 MILLION TO REVITALIZE CANAL CORRIDOR AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE ROCHESTER CANAL CORRIDOR REGION

Funding breakdown and project descriptions attached

ROCHESTER -- Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, and their families, spent this morning biking along the scenic Erie Canal towpath and announced the agencies will provide a total of $38.5 million in assistance to communities along Rochester's Canal Corridor to spark economic growth, job creation, increased tourism, housing construction and infrastructure improvements.

After biking along the Erie Canal, Secretaries Cuomo and Glickman were joined by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Congressman Reynolds at a news conference at Palmac Park in Palmyra to announce the federal assistance. Cuomo boated to Palmyra along the Erie Canal with Congresswoman Slaughter and later cruised to the Erie Canal Cultural Center with Congressman Thomas Reynolds. Today is the second day of a five-day visit to upstate New York tourism sites designed to highlight the historic, cultural and recreational attractions along the Canal Corridor communities.

Cuomo, his wife Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, twin daughters Cara and Mariah, and Congressman and local officials from across the state will spend the rest of the week traveling the Canal Corridor by boat and ground transportation across New York State. (See attached itinerary) Those traveling are sampling a wide variety of family-oriented activities along the Canal Corridor, including biking along the canal towpaths, hiking, fishing, and visits to museums, historic sites, and cultural attractions. Yesterday, Cuomo kicked off the trip with a boat tour on Lake Erie, announcing $31.1 million in federal aid for Western New York.

"Upstate New York has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and my family and I are enjoying our travels throughout the Canal Corridor region," said Secretary Cuomo. "I'm pleased that HUD has taken in active role in funding projects in towns like Palmyra and Lyons that are so critical to the Rochester Erie Canal region's success."

"Here at USDA, we are committed to providing the tools and opportunities for continued growth and stability in rural New York State," said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. "In fact, since 1997, we have invested close to $190 million in our partnership with HUD and the people of the Canal Corridor region."

"I am delighted by HUD and USDA's announcement of over $100 million for the revitalization and redevelopment of the Canal Corridor," said Senator Charles Schumer. "We all recognize the enormous potential of the Canal Region, and I am pleased to see steps being taken to help our rural communities prosper. I look forward to continuing to work with Secretaries Cuomo and Glickman to ensure the economic health of New York State."

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter was pleased at the attention given the region by Secretaries Cuomo and Glickman. "Working together we can deliver federal dollars that will access private investment to create new jobs and new tourism opportunities," said Slaughter.

"At the turn of the century, the canal system was at the center of trade, commerce, and our way of life both in Western New York and across the state," said Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds. "And at the turn of the next century, the canal corridor is again presenting us with great opportunities for tourism and economic development. The Canal Corridor Initiative will help not only preserve our heritage, but improve our future."

Today's announcement brings the total to $69.6 million in federal assistance awarded to New York this week. The funding today builds on over $200 million in assistance provided through the Canal Corridor Initiative during the past two years. HUD's Canal Corridor Initiative began in 1997 by Cuomo to put federal resources to work as part of a long-term and coordinated commitment to revitalize communities along the Canal Corridor and elsewhere in upstate New York. The locally driven initiative seeks to turn the Erie Canal and connecting waterways that make up the Canal Corridor into a major tourism destination that will spark economic development across upstate.

HUD, the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, local communities and businesses are working in partnership to make the initiative succeed. Federal assistance has gone to over 200 projects along the 524-mile canal system. New Canal Corridor projects built with this aid span the state and include new marinas, restaurants, recreational businesses, parks, walkways and bikepaths. Federal assistance has also funded the reconstruction and preservation of historic and cultural sites, along with the development of new manufacturing and small business development.

The 524-mile New York State Canal System was once a major link between the Northeast and the Midwest. As other forms of transportation took over the Canal's role of a major transport route, the industrial and commercial base of many cities and towns in the region suffered. These cities experienced declining populations, urban decay, and high unemployment.

The Initiative complements the New York State Canal Revitalization Program, both in its details and overall goals. It is based on a careful review of existing state and local plans for the region, including the landmark New York State Recreationway Plan, completed in 1995. As a result, it provides a template for close cooperation between federal, state and local governments in revitalizing the Canal Corridor.

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S FEDERAL AID ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ROCHESTER'S CANAL CORRIDOR REGION

HUD and USDA today announced $15.1 million in small cities/Canal Corridor assistance to the following five New York counties

COUNTY	TOTAL HUD AND USDA ASSISTANCE
Genessee	$2.6 million
Livingston	$6.3 million
Monroe	$2.3 million
Wayne	$3 million
Wyoming	$900,000

Secretary Cuomo also announced $20.9 million in entitlement assistance for the Town of Greece, the Town of Irondequoit, Monroe County, and Rochester. A breakdown of the amounts for each area includes:

• Town of Greece, $512,000 in Community Development Block Grants;
• Town of Irondequoit, $1.0 million in Community Development Block Grants;
• Monroe County, $3.1 million total with $2 million in Community Development Block Grants and $1.1 million in HOME investment funds used to create affordable housing for low-income households; and
• Rochester, $16.2 million total with $11.6 in Community Development Block Grants, $3.5 million in HOME investment funds used to create affordable housing for low-income household, $542,000 in HOPWA funds for services for people with AIDS, and $415,000 for Emergency Shelter grants.

In addition to the Canal Corridor and entitlement aid, Cuomo also announced a $2.5 million economic package for the City of Rochester with a $500,000 Brownfields Economic Development Initiative grant and $2.0 million in Section 108 loan guarantees for the City of Rochester that will be used to assist Germanow-Simon, a major manufacturer of plastic optics and watch crystals, in the expansion and improvement of facilities and the upgrade of equipment. The redevelopment of this site will retain 135 jobs and create 20 additional jobs.

COMMUNITY	DESCRIPTION	JOBS TO BE CREATED	GRANT AMOUNT	LEVERAGE	TOTAL	COUNTY
PAVILION, T.	The Town of Pavilion will construct a water main to connect its water system to the Village of LeRoy's system, using a $400,000 HUD grant and $671,000 in local matching funds. The entire water district, 227 households and 720 persons, will be served by the project.		$400,000.00	$671,000.00	$1,071,000.00	GENESEE
LIVONIA, T.	The Town of Livonia will construct a sewage collection and treatment system to serve the hamlet of Hemlock, using a $400,000 HUD grant, $532,000 USDA investment and $1.4 million in local funds. The project will eliminate inadequate septic systems where soil conditions and housing density render other solutions impractical. The project will serve 150 households in the proposed Hemlock Sewer District.		$400,000.00	$1,900,000.00	$2,300,000.00	LIVINGSTON
LIVINGSTON COUNTY	Livingston County will use $453,850 in CDBG funds for job training, business plan implementation and a micro-business revolving loan fund. The Small Business Development Center at SUNY Geneseo will service the micro-businesses. The grant is expected to generate 80 new full time employment positions. The County IDA will commit an additional $300,000 to the project, and the County Economic Development Office will contribute an additional $30,000 of in-kind services.	80	$453,850.00	$330,000.00	$783,850.00	LIVINGSTON
EAST ROCHESTER, V.	The Village of East Rochester's $375,000 HUD grant will fund a first-time homebuyer program. The community will assist 25 families by subsidizing the purchase price of a home at an average level of $12,500. The Village expects that local lenders will provide $1.5 million in private financing. A HomeBuyer Education program will also be offered by Rural Opportunities, Inc. Rural Opportunities, Inc. will offer a home buyer education program.		$375,000.00	$1,493,875.00	$1,868,875.00	MONROE
ARCADIA, T.	The Town of Arcadia's $400,000 grant will be used to provide public water service to 90 residents in the Fairville area and to hamlets north of the Village of Newark through the construction of a distribution line along Route 88. Arcadia will purchase surplus water from the Village of Newark. Arcadia will purchase surplus water from the Village of Newark. USDA contribute $590,000 to complete the project.		$400,000.00	$590,000.00	$990,000.00	WAYNE
CLYDE, V.	The Village of Clyde will use its $190,000 HUD grant to construct a pump house, chlorination facilities, and other associated infrastructure. The project will establish a reliable secondary well to complement the main well that currently supplies the Village. The Village's 2,409 residents, numerous small businesses and future canal-related developments will be served by the project. To complete the project, the Village will invest $60,000 of its local funds.		$190,000.00	$60,000.00	$250,000.00	WAYNE
PALMYRA, T.	The Town of Palmyra's $400,000 HUD Small Cities grant will finance a sewer extension to the Paul Freund Corporation. The company will expand and create 32 new jobs. HUD funds are leveraging $650,000 in additional investment in this canalside community.	32	$400,000.00	$650,000.00	$1,050,000.00	WAYNE
WYOMING COUNTY	Wyoming County will use its $422,350 economic development grant for a revolving micro-business loan fund. The fund is structured to facilitate the growth of new entrepreneurs. The County will use the services of the Small Business Development Corporation at Geneseo SUNY for entrepreneur business training. The grant is expected to create 54 new full time jobs. The County IDA will contribute $100,000 to the loan fund and additional services will be donated by the County Business Development Council and the County Department of Economic Development and Planning.	54	$422,350.00	$149,000.00	$571,350.00	WYOMING

SECRETARY CUOMO'S CANAL CORRIDOR TRIP ITINERARY

• Sunday, August 15 - Inner harbor celebration and community picnic in Buffalo. Boating on Lake Erie with Congressmen John LaFalce and Jack Quinn, accompanied by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman.

• Monday, August 16 - Biking with Secretary Glickman along the Erie Canal towpath from Pittsford to Fairport. Boating along the Erie Canal with Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Congressman Thomas Reynolds and visiting the Erie Canal Cultural Center in Lyons.

• Tuesday, August 17 - Touring the Elizabeth Cady Stanton home, Baldwin House, and the Women's Rights National Historic Park with National Park Service Director Robert Stanton in Seneca Falls. Touring Goose Watch Winery in Romulus with aides to Congressman Amo Houghton, and boating on Cayuga Lake and the Seneca Canal. Visiting the Old Port Harbor in Ithaca and attending a community picnic in Geneva.

• Wednesday, August 18 - Fishing with Congressman James Walsh on Skaneateles Lake, boating along the Seneca River to Baldwinsville and dedicating a new park. Also, dedicating a waterfront marina in Fulton with Congressman John McHugh and presiding over the grand opening of Coleman's Irish Pub on the Canal in Oswego.

• Thursday, August 19 - Boating on the Mohawk River to Little Falls with Congressman Sherwood Boehlert. Participating in a major economic development event Green Island with Congressman Michael McNulty.

Content Archived: January 20, 2009