FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2004

SCHUMER, CLINTON SECURE $250,000 FOR FOOTHILLS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Newly passed omnibus appropriations report includes $250,000 to construct the
104,000 square foot facility

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that they have secured $250,000 to fund a portion of the construction of the Foothills Performing Arts Center. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill conference report passed today by the Senate. The report is now expected to receive the President's signature.

"This summer when I visited Oneonta I said that when it came time for appropriations, I would make the Foothills Performing Arts Center one of my highest requests for federal money. Well, today, I'm glad to say that support has paid off," Schumer said.

"The Foothills Performing Acts Center has the potential to expand tourism and investment in ways that foster the regions’ attractiveness as a year-round tourism and cultural destination," Clinton said. "I am pleased to announce these funds for the Foothills Performing Arts Center. I was proud to work side by side with Senator Schumer and the rest of the New York Delegation on this. I am disappointed that the bill contained other provisions that I feel were harmful to the people of New York, but I am happy that we can move ahead on this."

The Senators said that the funds would be used to construct a 104,000 square foot facility consisting of a grand lobby element; a 1,200-seat performing arts theater; a 300-set black box theater which accommodates a 225-seat dinner theater among several other events; a series of multi-purpose rooms for rehearsals, dance lessons, recitals, music/ dance educational workshops, conferences and other related activities.

The Center will house retails shops, a café, concessions and catering areas, suitable infrastructure for stage/ scene and costume fabrication, sound and video production capabilities and sufficient space for administrative and management personnel.

The funding was included in the Omnibus conference report passed by the House and Senate. The report now awaits the President's signature.

####