-Funding Will Finance Main Street Improvements, Create Local Jobs-
Peekskill, NY – Joining on Main Street with officials from the City of Peekskill, U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) today announced $665,000 in federal funding he secured to improve the city's thoroughfare and its surrounding Downtown Business District. This new funding will go towards financing sidewalk improvements, landscaping and lighting upgrades on Main Street and creating local jobs while revitalizing Peekskill's downtown. These projects will also foster the city's long-term economic growth by attracting shoppers and diners to spend their money in Peekskill.
"This project is part of the City of Peekskill's larger effort to revitalize the City's economy and is a prime example of the type of investments we must be making throughout America," said Congressman Hall. "Right now, as our economy continues to slump, we need to support projects that lead to job growth in both the short and long-term. The funding I secured will create jobs by enabling the City to hire workers to build the sidewalks, improve the ramps, and complete all necessary electrical work. Long-term, this project will encourage investors to purchase and upgrade buildings and other property in Peekskill."
Funding for these projects was secured by Hall as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105), which passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Obama last month. The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contained the nine 2009 appropriations bills that remained unfinished at the end of 2008. Without enactment of these bills, funding for all federal energy research, health care, education, law enforcement, consumer protection, bank regulation and transportation programs would have run out on March 6th.
"Since an important goal of this administration is to upgrade the condition of the city’s public infrastructure, Peekskill is very thankful for this significant source of funding which allows us to make improvements to Main Street as part of our downtown revitalization efforts," said Mary Foster, Mayor of Peekskill. "Residents, as well as visitors, will benefit from these improvements. The $665,000 will fund improvements to street safety and aesthetics--vital steps towards enhancing the quality of life for residents, shoppers, business owners and workers alike. We applaud Congressman Hall's efforts."
"Peekskill has always been a vibrant source of culture and commerce in the Hudson Valley, and this funding will help ensure it continues to be well into the future," Hall added.
"As the representative in Congress for the City of Peekskill, I have the privilege of knowing about the quality of shops and restaurants and entertainment available to residents and visitors," said Hall. "The federal funding on its way to Peekskill will help bring even more great businesses to the City, improving the quality of life of residents and other visitors from the Hudson Valley. My number one priority in Congress is to revive our economy and set the Hudson Valley's economy on a path to thrive for generations to come. Investing in our infrastructure is one of the best ways to jumpstart our economy and create American jobs."
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