Adopted State Budget Includes Funding For Further Development of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown

ALBANY- State Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- 57th District) is delighted that she has shepherded through a $5 million allocation proposed by Governor Cuomo for the National Comedy Center in Jamestown.

“Securing this funding has taken a concerted effort during budget negotiations. The Senate championed it in our one-house resolution, including specific language to provide assurance for the Comedy Center so they could continue to pursue additional funding opportunities. We worked closely with Governor Cuomo to ensure the allocation is included in the final budget that was passed, so that there could be no questions,” said Senator Young.

During the Governor’s regional State of the State address in Buffalo on January 9, he stated, “In Jamestown, we’re going to leverage the cultural history and we will invest $5 million to close the gap under the Lucille Ball Comedy Center.” However, the specific allocation for the National Comedy Center was lumped together with the entirety of projects included in the Buffalo Billion Round II. Senator Young secured a line item detailing the full funding in the Senate’s budget proposal, and the support for the project was included in the adopted budget.

“The National Comedy Center combines our local history, the broad craft of comedy and internationally recognized talent to create a remarkable attraction. The Center is expected to entice over 114,000 visitors each year and provide a $23 million boost to the local economy annually. The project will also be a catalyst for additional economic development projects in Jamestown and will be a focal point as local officials continue downtown revitalization efforts,” she said.

“I thank the governor for putting his trust in our community, and I applaud the National Comedy Center’s leadership for their efforts to develop this momentous investment. I am pleased that this substantial funding has been secured,” Senator Young said.