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March 17, 2009

Sens. seek northern border stimulus funds

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH — U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are seeking stimulus funding for northern border communities.

The New York senators, along with Olympia Snowe of Maine and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, are urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide funding from the $50 million recently authorized in the stimulus package for regional economic development.

The funding would go to the Northern Border Regional Commission and would help economically distressed areas of New York, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

"Despite its critical role in the regional and international economy, too often the northern border is a neglected after-thought in our policy and funding decisions," Schumer said.

"Fully funding, the Northern Border Regional Commission will allow the people who know the area best to implement strategies to create growth, improve aging infrastructure and spur job creation."

The commission is designed to help distressed areas in several northern border states, including the New York counties of Cayuga, Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence.

The 36 counties in the commission area have poverty levels above the national average, median household income that is more than $6,500 below the national average, persistent unemployment fed by constant layoffs in traditional manufacturing industries and a significant out-migration and loss of younger workers, according to a news release from Schumer's office.

The commission will invest in these communities and work to create and implement regional economic-development plans to reduce poverty, address changing land use and improve the quality of life for residents.

The commission will also provide funding for projects that stimulate economic development and promote the historic character, sustainable development and industries in the region.

Schumer, Gillibrand, Shaheen and Snowe sent a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandra R. Walters, urging her to direct the funding to the commission.

"During these difficult economic times, it is important that the Northern Border Regional Commission receive funding so that it can get to work for our states," the letter read in part.

"Funding this commission will provide new and important economic-development tools that our state leaders, communities, economic-development experts and local stakeholders can utilize together to promote solutions to our shared regional challenges."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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