SCHUMER REVEALS: AFTER MONTHS OF ADVOCACY, SCHOHARIE COUNTY POISED TO BE ADDED TO NORTHERN BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION, OPENING UP MILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO BOLSTER AREA; SENATOR LAUNCHES FINAL PUSH TO REAUTHORIZE PROGRAM AND ADD SCHOHARIE COUNTY

New NBRC Bill Schumer Is Leading Would Make Schoharie Eligible For Fed Program That Has Delivered Millions For Upstate NY To Build Infrastructure, Invest In Workforce, New Businesses, Childcare and Healthcare, & More

Senator Has Delivered BIG For Schoharie County in Recent Month – Securing Fed $$ To Replace Vital Bridge, Improve High-Speed Internet Access & Support Firefighters – Says Adding Them To NBRC Can Supercharge Fed Funding Further

Schumer: We Secured Critical Fed Resources For Schoharie This Year & I Will Keep Fighting For More!

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced, after months of advocacy, he has successfully gotten Schoharie County added to the Senate legislation reauthorizing the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The NBRC delivers millions to eligible New York counties every year. Schumer said he is now launching his push to pass this bill, which would unlock federal funding for Schoharie County to address critical needs across the region, including building infrastructure, investing in workforce training, childcare and healthcare, supporting new and existing businesses, and more.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission has provided millions for economic opportunities for rural communities in Upstate New York for years, and after months of work I’m excited to share Schoharie County is poised to be added thanks to the reauthorization that I’m leading. This would be a huge shot in the arm for Schoharie, unlocking millions in federal funding opportunities for addressing childcare and healthcare needs, boosting infrastructure projects, supporting workforce training, helping to launch and retain businesses, and more,” said Senator Schumer. “The NBRC has been wildly successful for expanding investment in communities across Upstate NY, and I’m fighting tooth and nail to reauthorize the program and open up millions in federal funding to grow the regional economy in Schoharie County.”

From 2010-2024, the NBRC has invested in over 78 projects, totaling more than $48 million in federal funding for Upstate New York. The senator explained that in addition to reauthorizing the NBRC for an additional 5 years, the bill would also increase the annual appropriation cap from $33 million to $40 million. The bill also makes critical enhancements to the range of projects the NBRC is able to support to foster growth in the region, including a new program focused on addressing childcare and healthcare needs and increasing support for addiction treatment, and new support for capacity building for business retention, job training, and job creation. Schumer introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Reauthorization Act of 2023 that paved the way for these key changes.

Schumer has a long history of championing the Northern Border Regional Commission and its positive economic impacts on Upstate New York. In 2021, the senator successfully secured $150 million for the NBRC, over triple its funding from previous years, through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.

Established in 2008, the NBRC is a federal-state partnership focused on the economic revitalization of communities across the Northern Border region, which includes New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Commission is composed of the governors of the four Northern Border states and a federal co-chair and provides financial and technical assistance to communities in the region to support entrepreneurs, improve water, broadband, and transportation infrastructure, and promote other initiatives to improve the region’s economy. The northern border region of New York State currently includes 28 counties: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Washington, Warren, Wayne, and Yates. Schumer is now pushing to include Schoharie and Wyoming counties as well.

Schumer additionally highlighted massive federal investments for Schoharie County including:

1. Nearly $12 million to replace the Bridge Street Bridge over Schoharie Creek from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: The Bridge Street Bridge is a vital connector in Schoharie County, but after 100 years of use, it is nearing the end of its useful life. The federal funding secured by the senator will help the county build a new bridge, increasing safety and creating jobs. New York State has put a weight restriction on the bridge due to its condition, and the county is concerned that further disrepair could eventually limit its use by emergency vehicles. The nearest bridge is approximately 10 miles away, adding 20-25 minutes in commute time. The senator also said that farm vehicles use the bridge regularly, and the bridge is vital to the county’s thriving rural agricultural economy.
2. $30 million for high-speed internet improvements from the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: The Broadband for Schoharie County project will construct 298 miles of fiber to connect more than 4,000 locations, including substantially all of the unserved locations in the county. The new infrastructure will bring high-speed internet to the most rural and hard to reach areas of the county.
3. $180,000+ for firefighters in Schoharie and Richmondville from the Assistance for Firefighters grant program: This critical funding will ensure that firefighters in Schoharie County have the federal support they need to purchase modern equipment and combat emergencies. Schumer stood with firefighters across the state to fight to successfully preserve and fund this program earlier this year.

“As Majority Leader in the Senate I have always made sure NY is on the front of my mind. Earlier this fall, I was proud to announce a major $11.6 million in federal funding to boost efforts to replace the Bridge Street Bridge, a vital connector in Schoharie County that is nearing the end of its useful life after 100 years. With the closest bridge more than 20 minutes away, this funding from my bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act will reduce travel time for emergency vehicles, keep people safe, and provide a key transportation route for the region’s economy and quality of life. I’m also excited to have delivered a whopping $30 million to help Schoharie County improve high-speed internet service, connecting more than 4,000 locations. Lastly, I’m glad that over $180,000 is going to help firefighters in Schoharie and Richmondville increase preparedness. I stood with firefighters across Upstate New York to push for the reauthorization of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program so that they have the federal support they need to purchase modern equipment and combat emergencies. It’s been a great year delivering critical federal resources for Schoharie, and adding Schoharie to the NBRC means that we could get even more. I will keep fighting for more and believe the best is yet to come!” added Schumer.

###