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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today cheered the news that all 10 of the Capital Region Community Projects he has fought to include in the FY2022 federal budget have been added as part of the larger omnibus spending bill. This group of ten diverse projects, ranging from clean energy initiatives and broadband internet expansion to water infrastructure upgrades and public health projects, will deliver a combined $14,447,500 in critical federal funds for the Capital Region. The package is expected to be advanced out of Congress this week ahead of its March 11 deadline.

“When we invest strongly in our communities, we pave the way for significant economic growth and job creation while bolstering resiliency and expanding vital public services,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our Capital Region is home to countless exciting projects that will have far-reaching and long-lasting benefits for residents, which is why I pushed unceasingly to make sure that they were included in our federal budget. This successful push would not have been possible without the dedicated local leaders and advocates who worked alongside me every step of the way to get these projects across the finish line. As we move forward to advance these transformational projects, I will continue fighting to ensure our Capital Region continues to receive the federal support it needs to boost our health, competitiveness, and prosperity for generations to come.”

The inclusion of his slate of Community Projects in the transformative omnibus spending bill represents another victory in Congressman Tonko’s ongoing efforts to bring federal investment to the Capital Region. Tonko was proud to speak with community leaders for the projects this morning to deliver the good news, and the Congressman is humbled by their thanks for his work in Congress to advance these initiatives.

The region’s impressive slate of Community Projects includes:

• $3,000,000 for the City of Cohoes to install floating solar panels on the Cohoes reservoir, which will serve as a model for communities across the nation striving to implement smart, clean energy systems that drive down consumer costs.
• $3,000,000 for the City of Amsterdam to design and engineer a pedestrian connector and multimodal transport station, increasing mobility and ease of access for residents.
• $2,000,000 for the City of Amsterdam for a community center project to revitalize neighborhoods and create a space for a wide array of educational programs, art classes, cooking classes, recreational programs, and organized sports.
• $1,687,500 for the Town of Westerlo to expand broadband internet access to hundreds of unserved and underserved households.
• $1,000,000 for the University at Albany to support the purchase of RNA research equipment that will better enable the state and the Capital Region to fight COVID-19, as well as help advance innovative new treatments for other diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Myotonic dystrophy, and more.
• $960,000 for the Town of Rotterdam to fund improvements to their wastewater treatment plant, bringing the plant up to modern standards.
• $800,000 for the City of Mechanicville for their water reliability project, which will replace miles of outdated water mains that currently serve thousands of Capital Region residents and businesses.
• $750,000 for Capital Roots to expand the Urban Grow Center that already provides affordable, fresh, quality food to residents across the Capital Region.
• $750,000 for Schenectady Family Health Services, Inc.’s Hometown Health Dental Clinic to expand this program that provides critical dental services to Capital Region families.  This expansion is even more urgent after the announcement of the closure of Ellis Hospital’s dental clinic, which has nearly doubled the number of Capital Region patients served by Hometown Health.
• $500,000 for Albany County’s Sheriff’s Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP) that provides a safe space for those individuals most in need to access food, shelter, job opportunities, mental health and addiction services, and more.

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