SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $750,000 TO REPLACE VITAL BRIDGE OVER GRASSE RIVER IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY
Schumer Says Bridge Serves As Vital Corridor For St. Lawrence County’s Timber Industry & Outdoor Recreation
Funding Comes From U.S. Economic Development Administration & Northern Border Regional Commission, Which Schumer Delivered Historic Federal $$ For In The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $750,000 in federal funding to replace the bridge carrying Tooley Pond Road over the South Branch of the Grasse River in the Town of Clare. Schumer said the bridge serves as a vital corridor for St. Lawrence County’s timber industry and outdoor recreation in the North Country. Funding for the new bridge is being provided through a partnership between the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which Schumer delivered a historic funding boost for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law.
“The Tooley Pond Road bridge over the Grass River is a vital corridor for the Town of Clare community, as well as the North Country timber and outdoor recreation industries. I’m proud to deliver $750,000 in federal funding to restore the bridge and pave the way for a more connected St. Lawrence County,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to deliver historic increases for the Northern Border Regional Commission because I know how important it is to improve infrastructure across New York, and I am pleased to see those efforts paying off with this investment in strengthening key transportation infrastructure in the Town of Clare and St. Lawrence County.”
“As we all know, the Town of Clare is our smallest town in St. Lawrence County and doesn't have the resources to undertake a critical infrastructure project such as this. I am extremely pleased with the support that is being provided by the Northern Border Regional Commission and support from Senator Schumer,” said Larry Denesha, St. Lawrence County Legislator, District 6.
Schumer helped deliver a historic $150 million for the NBRC through the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law. This has resulted in a surge in federal investment, including earlier this year when Schumer delivered $7.5 million and in 2023 when Schumer delivered over $10 million for projects across Upstate NY through the NBRC—the largest annual investment for Upstate New York in the program’s history. The NRBC funding has nearly doubled since 2022.
Schumer is also currently leading the charge in the Senate to renew the Northern Border Regional Commission’s economic development programs and reauthorize the Economic Development Administration, the other federal source for today’s announced investment. Schumer introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Reauthorization Act of 2023 this past February, which would reauthorize the NBRC for another ten years, increase annual authorized funding levels, and target funds to addressing childcare and health care needs, supporting housing projects, building climate resilient infrastructure, and combatting the opioid crisis, in addition to the agency’s focus of creating new jobs, promoting business retention and expansion, making critical investment in public infrastructure, and boosting tourism across Upstate New York counties. The NBRC reauthorization is part of a broader reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration that passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee earlier this year and is now part of a negotiation for passage by the end of the year, an effort Schumer is actively pushing.
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