May 6, 2023

Dear Friends,

Over the last two years, I’ve worked hard to advance impactful local projects in our federal budget, and I’m deeply proud of the success we’ve had in securing funds for each of the 25 projects I nominated during the FY2022 and FY2023 processes. Now, I am taking action once again to bring these federal dollars to our region during the FY2024 Appropriations process.

This year’s process was extremely competitive. My office received dozens of strong applications from across the Capital Region. From these submissions, my team and I worked to nominate a total of 15 projects which could collectively invest more than $22.3 million into our region.

This week, I traveled across our Capital Region to hold several regional forums showcasing how these innovative projects—crafted by dedicated local municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups—are working to deliver critical services and help us grow and prosper.

Here are the projects I will be championing this year, sorted by county:

Albany County

• Watervliet Youth Center Improvements in Watervliet: this project will support needed improvements to the youth community center that provides year-round programming and services for children and young adults.  
• South End Economic Development Center Expansion in Albany: Located in a food desert, this project will establish a multi-purpose community center for the South End, offering a gathering space alongside food, health, wellness, and small business support services.
• Capital District LATINOS Community Center in Albany: This project will establish a multi-purpose community and empowerment center for local residents in a rehabilitated historic building, helping to promote the well-being of underserved populations in the region.
• Village of Ravena Drinking Water System Improvements in Ravena: This project will address deficiencies at the Moxley Street Pump Station, the Village Water Treatment Plant, and other needed replacements for the drinking water system that dates as far back as the 1890s.
• Town of Coeymans Sewer System Improvements in Coeymans: This project will make needed upgrades to the sewer system to reduce inflow and infiltration levels, especially during storm events.

Rensselaer County

• Route 2 Multi-Modal Connectivity Project in Troy: This project will create a continuous bicycle and pedestrian route along the Congress Street Bridge to connect the cities of Watervliet and Troy, while also enhancing the existing transit network.

Saratoga County

• Southern Saratoga YMCA Capital Improvements in Clifton Park: This project will support infrastructure and building improvements to the Southern Saratoga YMCA, providing a range of resources to serve and uplift the local community.
• Galway Community Building in Galway: This project will support the construction of a new community building at Galway Town Park to provide much-needed bathroom facilities, a kitchen, and an open gathering area. 
• Crescent Avenue Connector in Saratoga Springs: This project will include the construction of a one-mile-long, asphalt path parallel to Crescent Avenue and between Route 9 and Nelson Avenue to be used by cyclists and pedestrians. 
• Moreau Emergency Squad Building Expansion in Moreau: This project will expand the Moreau Emergency Squad’s (MES) capacity to respond to the growing volume of emergency call requests in the area. 
• Schuylerville & Victory Water Main Replacement in Schuylerville & Victory: This project will protect public health and safety by replacing thousands of feet of pipelines in the area, many of which are more than 100 years old.

Schenectady County

• YWCA Harbor House Supportive Housing in Schenectady: This project will help fund construction of 54 permanent, affordable housing units for women in Schenectady, including for survivors of domestic violence. 
• Better Community Neighborhoods Affordable Housing in Schenectady: This project will include the rehabilitation of 26 substandard apartments in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
• Veterans Community and Welcome Center in Glenville: This project will fund a new veterans’ community and resource center to support the families of local fallen soldiers and help them access needed community resources.
• SUNY Schenectady Mobile Training Lab House in Schenectady: This project will support construction of a garage to ensure the security, safety, and accessibility of the Training Labs, vehicles, and equipment.

You can read more about each project on my website HERE.

Our district is a remarkable, special place. We are home to cutting-edge innovation and research, world-class institutions of higher learning and health care, and countless amazing and diverse businesses, restaurants and community facilities that add vibrancy to our lives.  

My top priority as Representative of New York’s 20^th Congressional District is supporting our local communities and helping our region grow and thrive. The Community Project process is a marvelous opportunity to deliver that direct support. Next week, I will return to Washington filled with resolve to secure this funding for each project in the federal budget and to continue to ensure our communities receive the investment we deserve.

As always, thank you for reading.

Your friend,

DID YOU KNOW?

My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies.

As an avid Amtrak commuter who understands the importance of access to affordable, safe, efficient public transit, I’d like to share some information that may be of interest to you:

• Last month Amtrak announced the official launch of their Office of Community Engagement, which seeks to connect and partner with communities they currently serve and those interested in new services in the future.
• The Office of Community Engagement will provide information on and raise awareness of Amtrak infrastructure projects nationwide, while also serving as a conduit for feedback, questions, and concerns from communities. 
  • The Office will also support employee volunteer activities across the US. 
• This unique new resource is available to constituents and members of the community should they wish to contact Amtrak directly about issues affecting their community.
• For more information or to connect with the staff of the Office of Community Engagement, you can email: [email protected]