SCHUMER SECURES NEARLY $18 MILLION FOR CRITICAL REPAIRS TO OSWEGO HARBOR; FUNDING WILL UPGRADE SEVERELY DAMAGED WEST BREAK WALL PROTECTING VITAL COMMERICAL CHANNEL FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK’S ECONOMY
Schumer Delivered New Funding In End-Of-Year Spending Package; Follows Nearly $6 Million Senator Secured Last Year To Jumpstart Oswego Harbor Repairs
Schumer: Full Steam Ahead For Major Upgrades To Oswego Harbor
After years of advocacy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced he has secured $17.971 million in federal funding for critical repairs to Oswego Harbor as a part of the recently passed, bipartisan omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2023. Specifically, Schumer said that the funding will be used to make critical repairs to ensure businesses can continue to use the Oswego Harbor for shipping. The funding will also allow for the protection of Oswego Harbor.
“Oswego Harbor will now have the federal support it needs to finally complete repair on its western break wall, protecting this essential commercial passageway to Lake Ontario and ensuring this economic engine will thrive for years to come,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to deliver this major $17.9 million federal investment to keep Oswego Harbor’s channels bustling, shores protected, and trade flowing to boost Central New York’s economy.”
William Scriber, Executive Director and CEO, Port of Oswego Authority said, "We at the Port of Oswego Authority are very excited that Senator Schumer once again came through for the port with $17 million for the critical repair of the Oswego Harbor break wall. This is vital to the port’s expanding business, local farmers and the many business that depend on the port. As we close out a record setting year in 2022 with the most tonnage in over two decades, this project is an investment in continued business and job growth in central New York."
Schumer explained that Oswego Harbor is the only commercial harbor in New York State on Lake Ontario and has four operating businesses that use the harbor in addition to two marinas that are integral to Central New York’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $24.4 million in business revenue, 119 direct, indirect, and induced jobs and $8 million in labor income to the transportation sector. The nearly $18 million Schumer secured will help fund Oswego Harbor’s west break wall repair completion. Significant repairs are needed to deteriorated sections of the west break wall. The West Arrowhead Breakwater protects the harbors primary channel, which allows for safe navigation between Oswego Harbor and Lake Ontario.
Schumer has a long history of fighting to deliver robust funding to protect Oswego Harbor. Last year, Schumer delivered $5.9 million to jumpstart repairs to Oswego Harbor’s West Arrowhead Breakwater and make other critical upgrades to the aging Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse.
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