Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and City of Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey announced that the Dunkirk Harbor has been awarded $820,000 in Recovery Act funding.  This is in addition to the $376,000 in funding secured by Congressman Higgins through the House Energy and Water bill announced just last week. 

 “This is great news and will allow us to expand the work planed for the harbor,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Under the leadership of Mayor Frey we are seeing momentum build along Dunkirk’s waterfront.  With these essential infrastructure investments we make the water’s edge an even more exciting place for residents, tourists and local businesses.” 

 Mayor Frey said, “This is another great step forward for us.  We appreciate Congressman Higgins’ support and are thrilled that this will provide us with the opportunity to address concerns in the waterways near NRG as well as the inner harbor.  These are critical areas for sport fishing as well as tourist activity and the benefits will extend well beyond the City of Dunkirk to all of Northern Chautauqua County.”

 Late last week members of Congressman Higgins staff and Mayor Frey’s staff met with representatives from the Army Corp of Engineers to review the details of the project.  Work within the federal channel along the Dunkirk Harbor is scheduled to begin in the fall. 

 Last August the Army Corps issued a notice warning vessel operators to use caution when navigating in the area due to reduced depths in the Harbor.  This funding will support dredging that will allow for smoother sailing of vessels navigating the waters.  Failure to dredge would result in continued reduced channel dimensions resulting in light loading and increased transportation costs for recreational and commercial boaters. 

 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $4.6 billion to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for national Civil Works projects.