Erie County & City of Buffalo Join Together in Stimulus Package Proposal

January 17, 2009

Mayor Brown and County Executive Collins Advocate for Federal Stimulus Package Funding to Move Critical Projects, Create Jobs

Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Buffalo Mayor Bryon W. Brown have joined together in announcing a regional submission for the federal stimulus package totaling more than $1.9 billion, which could create an estimated 43,000 jobs throughout Erie County and the City of Buffalo. The collaborative submission highlights hundreds of local infrastructure projects in both the City and local municipalities. Many of these projects are shovel-ready, but currently lack the necessary capital investment.

The proposal includes funding for:

•Vital economic development projects, including the clean-up of several brownfields

•Road, highway, bridge and streetscape construction

•Repair and restoration of local parklands and recreation areas

•Expansion and replacement of environmental and wastewater infrastructure

•Upgrades and repairs to public buildings

•Public safety and security projects

•Green initiatives

"As County Executive, I believe strongly that infrastructure improvements are critical to the growth of Erie County," said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. "At a time when county resources are scarce, a possible injection of federal dollars could have a tremendous impact on Erie County's aging and neglected infrastructure. Funding for even a fraction of these projects would represent a significant investment in our community, the opportunity to hire thousands of local workers, and reduce our need for capital borrowing in the future."

"Over the past three years my Administration has worked very hard to put the City of Buffalo on stable fiscal footing and we are now poised for continued investment and development that will continue to move the City of Buffalo forward," said Mayor Brown. "I am pleased to join County Executive Chris Collins to submit our ready-to-go projects lists for funding through the federal stimulus package, which will fund critically important projects throughout the city and county and create jobs for our residents."

The City and County proposals will be forwarded to the Western New York federal delegation for review, and hopefully submission into the final stimulus package proposed by Congress. The proposals will also be shared with the Western New York state delegation, as many of these projects still need environmental clearances from New York State.

"Compiling the County's project list was a collaborative process with our 44 towns, cities and villages," said Collins. "And our partnership with the City of Buffalo not only highlights our common interests and concerns, but demonstrates to the federal government that our city and county are working together and speaking with one voice in the best interest of our greater community."

"The County Executive and I both agree that in order to make these projects move forward and to ensure their success, we believe that the federal stimulus funding should be sent directly to the nation's cities and counties," said Mayor Brown.

The breakdown of the joint regional submission for the federal stimulus package is:

•Erie County $685 million (29,000 jobs w/ towns & villages)

•Erie County Towns & Villages $600 million

•City of Buffalo $622 million (14,184 jobs)