Issue Position: Community Development

Issue Position

One of Rep. Slaughter's highest priorities is directing federal funding back to the Western New York region and her district. Each year, she is responsible for obtaining over $100 million for important local projects and priorities. Over the course of her tenure in Congress, over $1 Billion has been identified for local institutions in the federal appropriations process. This funding has helped local universities better prepare our workforce, companies expand, municipalities invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, and non-profit organizations move our community forward. Each project must meet Congresswoman Slaughter's goal of strengthening our local economy and meet her three criteria: creating jobs, enjoying broad public support, and being fiscally responsible.

She has stood out as a leader in Upstate New York as a tireless and effective leader in fighting for our fair share of federal funds. In 2002, the Buffalo News reported that over the last five years when Rep. Slaughter was the primary Congressional Representative in Monroe County, the City of Rochester had the biggest increase in Congressional set-asides for local projects at 533 percent compared to other New York cities. As the funding analysis showed, the Rochester metropolitan area had the largest amount of federal funding among any of the Upstate cities, and Congresswoman Slaughter was more successful in securing funding for high priority projects.

In 2003, local victories for the Rochester area included: over $400,000 for a certificate program for unemployed workers to move to the biotechnology sector, nearly $1 million to cover the Southeast Reservoir, $225,000 to assist Strong Museum's expansion project, $1.5 million for the Port of Rochester and $300,000 to dredge the Rochester Harbor, over $1 million for County roads, and $270,000 for the construction of a new Garth Fagan dance studio. Rep. Slaughter also successfully supported $4.5 million for the Infotonics Center of Excellence, which may create as many as 5,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.

In addition, victories for the Buffalo area included: over $20 million for local defense companies, $1 million for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus' multi-use facility, $600,000 for the Village of Kenmore's Delaware Avenue Streetscape project, $250,000 for the Town of Grand Island's wastewater improvement project, $140,000 for Broadway Market's restoration efforts in Buffalo, and $75,000 for 1490 Enterprises, Inc. In Niagara County, she listened to the Town of Niagara who needed assistance in closing the funding gap to build a new Community Center, and responded by obtaining $60,000.

This year, Rep. Slaughter was responsive to area stakeholders who supported funding environmental restoration projects that will prepare the area for future economic development. Among these restoration projects, she secured $100,000 for 18 Mile Creek in Niagara County and $200,000 to dredge Oak Orchard Harbor in Orleans County.

Rep. Slaughter has worked tirelessly to provide assistance to rehabilitating our communities. Among other efforts, Congresswoman Slaughter worked to attain federal funding for waterfront improvement and harbor development. Over the past few years, Congresswoman Slaughter has secured nearly $30 million to lay the groundwork for the redevelopment of Rochester's historic waterfront and the addition of a Rochester-Toronto fast ferry service. Earlier this year, Rep. Slaughter successfully supported a $1.1 million grant through the Department of Homeland Security to build a new U.S. Customs facility. She also recently secured $1.5 million in direct funding for a transportation and security system at the Port. Previous funds have gone to complete roadwork to create new access points into the Harbor area and construct port and terminal facilities.

When fully realized, the revitalized Harbor will be a tremendous economic asset to the Upstate community and a wonderful tourist destination. With the advent of the ferry in the Summer of 2004, a variety of new businesses, shops, and retail establishments are expected to open along the waterfront and throughout the area. Market studies indicate that the fast ferry could increase tourism by 20% once it begins operation.

Since being elected to represent the Buffalo area, Rep. Slaughter has supported the Western New York Congressional delegation's funding requests aimed at reinvigorating Buffalo's waterfront. The proposed Inner/Outer Harbor Development projects will provide economic growth for the City of Buffalo and the entire Western New York region.

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