Senator Gallivan Applauds REDC Funding

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) is praising the latest round of state funding awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council program, including support for dozens of projects in Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region. Statewide, more than $763 million in economic and community development funding has been awarded through Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

“These various projects will help communities across the state grow by investing in our economy, creating and retaining jobs and improving the quality of life for residents,” Senator Gallivan said.  “I congratulate members of the Western New York and Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Councils for submitting these strategic plans that will help to further strengthen our region.” 

The Regional Councils were established in 2011 to jumpstart the economy and create jobs by empowering communities, business and academic leaders, as well as members of the public in each region of the state, to develop strategic plans specifically tailored to their region's unique strengths and resources, 

The Western New York Regional Council has been awarded a total of $66 million, supporting 118 projects.  The Finger Lakes Regional Council secured $86.5 million in funding to support 141 projects.

Projects within the 59^th State Senate District include:

Erie County

• $2-million to Rosina Food Product, Inc. for its Protein Operation Expansion. The $32 million project includes a new 120,000 square foot plant and production line and relocating production from out of state to the new facility in West Seneca.
• $1,383,893 to the Town of West Seneca to implement Phase 5 of their project to prevent inflow and infiltration to wastewater collection system, including various repairs and improvements.
• $50,000 to the Roycroft Campus Corporation for restoration of the Roycroft Copper Shop.
• $45,978 to Springville Center for the Arts to acquire the historic Baptist Parsonage to create permanent artist housing and reunite all of the properties in the First Baptist Church National Register Listing.
• $300,000 to the Town of Eden to assist in the renovation of mixed-use properties in the Town’s Four Corners commercial district.
• $20,000 to the Town of Eden to develop a feasibility study for the preservation and reuse of Croop’s Mill on Bley Street along Eighteen Mile Creek.
• $100,000 to the Village of Depew to complete an engineering report to continue its sanitary abatement program.
• $20,000 to the Village of Lancaster to create feasibility studies and building plans to key buildings in the Village’s downtown area.
• $1,248,150 to the Village of Lancaster to complete Phase I of its program to repair the sanitary sewer system.
• $20,000 to the Village of North Collins to create design concepts for mixed-use properties in the downtown area.
• $655,969 to WNY Land Conservancy to acquire a 222-acre parcel in the Town of Wales. Protecting this land is of high importance due to its potential for development, which would increase the amount of silt and sedimentation entering Hunters Creek.

Wyoming County

• $375,000 for the Village of Warsaw to install an ultraviolet disinfection system at its wastewater treatment facility.
• $300,000 to the Village of Perry to enhance the existing Perry Public Beach located on Silver Lake by installing docks, a kayak launch, restroom facilities, parking lot and other improvements.
• $45,000 to the Arts Council for Wyoming County to celebrate agriculture through a series of exhibits, with artwork reproduced on outdoor banners, dance, theater and music performances and a publication of a book documenting the work.
• $35,000 to Shake on the Lake to appoint an artistic director to help this rural professional theater develop in the Finger Lakes region.
• $6,000 to the Village of Arcade to protect a drinking water source in the Town of Freedom from potential contamination.

Livingston County

• $500,000 to Livingston Co. Ag and Feed Processing Plant to provide certified organic dehydrated alfalfa for the poultry and beef industries, fruit and vegetable drying and dehydration, and pellet production for wood stoves.
• $200,000 to Livingston County to help establish the Livingston County Microenterprise Assistance Program.
• $47,500 to Livingston County to complete a housing needs assessment of the County is housing conditions.
• $20,000 to Livingston County Development Corporation to create design guidelines for Livingston County.
• $767,250 to Livingston County Water & Sewer Authority to install new UV disinfection equipment at the Lakeville wastewater treatment facility.
• $301,578 to Town of Geneseo to implement a cooperative highway services project with the Town of Caledonia, sharing six pieces of equipment to be stored at Geneseo’s highway facilities.
• $200,000 to the Village of Avon to complete the stabilization and restoration of the historic Five Arch Bridge to prevent further deterioration.
• $30,000 to the Village of Avon to complete an engineering report to evaluate the most efficient and cost effective solution to disinfecting their wastewater treatment plant effluent.
• $375,000 to the Village of Caledonia to assist in the renovation of two anchor properties located at 3154 & 3156 State Street.
• $1-million to the Village of Lima to construct an ultraviolet disinfection system at its wastewater treatment facility on Ziegler Drive.
• $31,000 to the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts to hire a Development Manager to increase awareness of the 50 year old nonprofit organization by creating and maintaining relationships with donors and sponsors.

Monroe County

• $1.5 million to Rochester Institute of Technology to renovate and upgrade its Genomics Research Lab Cluster, which will occupy 8,000 square feet within the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences on the RIT campus. The lab cluster will support increased faculty research in the life sciences, enable increased enrollment capacity in the university's life sciences academic degree programs, and produce graduates with cutting-edge skill sets for the region and the state, and workforce development opportunities for life science companies.

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