Jacobs touts nearly $4 million secured for rural broadband in Niagara-Orleans
Congressman also highlights $379K for ag/tech learning center at Cooperative Extension
Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs
WASHINGTON, DC – With the passing of last night’s two-bill omnibus package in the House of Representatives, Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has secured critical funds for district projects. Jacobs released the following statement on the votes.
“I voted for the defense portions of the omnibus, which included funding for our national security agencies, military aid for Ukraine, and expanded funding for CBP and ICE – a need I heard directly when at the border last week. However, I voted against the non-defense portion of the omnibus because it contained partisan policies that erode the Second Amendment and grow domestic spending at a time when we are still grappling with 40-year record inflation,” Jacobs said.
Specifically, Jacobs was able to secure funding for several projects including:
- Niagara Orleans Wireless Broadband Initiative – $3,877,500
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag/Tech Community Response & Learning Center in Orleans County – $379,432
- Lockport Memorial Hospital Campus of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital – $2,000,000
- GLOW YMCA Healthy Living Campus – $900,000
- Dansville YMCA Branch – $105,000
- Royalton-Hartland Agriculture Center for Excellence Outdoor Learning – $515,685
- Wyoming County Fire Training Center – $597,289
“This year, each member was afforded the opportunity to submit community project funding requests to support critical projects in their district. We held an extensive search to locate projects of importance in this district and secure federal funds for them,” Jacobs said. “My community project requests focused heavily on a priority I have had since taking office – supporting rural communities in NY-27 and ensuring they every resource to prosper now, and generations into the future. Whether building out high-speed broadband infrastructure, educating the next generation of Western New York farmers, or improving emergency services – these goals and initiatives are reflected in the funding I secured for my district.”
Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, made this statement: “Congressman Jacobs has delivered on his promise to close Orleans County’s rural digital divide. Our families, farmers, students, seniors, and businesses will finally have a level playing field with the rest of the state and nation. Reliable high-speed broadband service will literally be life changing for people in this community. We have not seen this level of commitment in the 15 years since forming the NORA Rural Broadband Initiative and are beyond grateful that Congressman Jacobs took up the mantle on our behalf. It clearly made all the difference.”
Robert Batt, Executive Director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, made this statement: “Congressman Jacobs was the first to get behind this project in response to community needs identified during the pandemic. The CCE AgTech Community Response & STEAM Learning Center at Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension will provide drive-through emergency response assistance 365 days a year to residents of Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming and Niagara counties, if necessary.
“When not in use as a rural emergency response center, the modern interior’s walls can flex to create classrooms or expansive hands-on learning spaces for CCE’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture/Arts, Math (STEAM) and Robotics programs. This flex center can be the site of vaccine or medical screening clinics one day and AgTech workshops the next. We are grateful for the funding to expand the capacity and curriculum at Cornell Orleans while at the same time creating a permanent community resource center for Orleans County residents and our neighbors during extreme weather events, other local and national emergencies.”
