Community Project Funding Requests 2022

Rep. Higgins has submitted funding requests for important community projects that impact NY-26 to the House Appropriations Committee. Projects are listed in alphabetical order by recipient.

Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 10 projects in their community for fiscal year 2022 – although only a handful may actually be funded. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available here.

In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Rep. Higgins has certified that he and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he has requested.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative
Project Name: AK360 Albright-Knox Expansion Greenspace Repatriation
Recipient: Buffalo Fine Arts Academy d/b/a/ Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Address: 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description and Explanation: The Albright-Knox seeks support for its campus expansion and development project, AK360. Specifically, this request would facilitate the repatriation of significant greenspace on the museum's Elmwood Avenue campus by funding elements of a reconfigured parking system which will enhance the walkability of this main thoroughfare and establish a Great Lawn complementing the Olmsted Park System.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative
Project Name: USS The Sullivans Preservation Project
Recipient: Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
Address: 1 Naval Marina Park S, Buffalo, NY 14202
Amount Requested: $490,000
Project Description and Explanation: USS The Sullivans, a national historic landmark, is taking on water through its deteriorating hull below the water line. A plan has been developed to make the necessary repairs to the hull and apply a Navy-approved epoxy to the under side of the ship to create a water tight barrier and prevent further damage. The funding provided would facilitate this repair.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Employment and Training Administration, Training and Employment Services
Project Name: Buffalo Green Infrastructure Stewardship and Workforce Development Program
Recipient: Buffalo Sewer Authority
Address:  65 Niagara Square #1038, Buffalo, NY 14202
Amount Requested: $571,934
Project Description and Explanation: This project will enable the Buffalo Sewer Authority and its partners to develop a workforce development pipeline from within underserved communities in the City of Buffalo to meet the growing needs of green infrastructure maintenance workers to address stormwater challenges and eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, SAMHSA, Health Surveillance and Program Support Account
Project Name: The Erie County Peer Workforce Demonstration Project
Recipient: Erie County Department of Health
Address: 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York, 14202
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description and Explanation: This project will expand Erie County’s peer recovery work through the establishment of a demonstration project embedding peers in primary care offices with direct linkages to treatment agencies to increase and improve access to mental health and substance abuse services. A billing structure will be developed and piloted working with local private insurance plans to ensure long term integration by practices.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, DOD/USAF Reserve, Military Construction
Project Name: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Hanger 850
Recipient: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS)
Address: 10405 Lockport Rd, Niagara Falls, New York 14304
Amount Requested: $6,900,000
Project Description and Explanation: NFARS has been designated by Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) as a Regional Periodic Inspection (REPI) site for KC-135R aircraft. To perform these functions, modification is required to two existing NFARS hangars (850 & 902). The provision of funds will bring NFARS / 914th’s facilities into compliance for purposes of performing the REPI function, which will add approximately 60 Full-Time Equivalent positions to NFARS as well as enhancing the military value of NFARS to AFRC and the USAF.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Department of Transportation, Local Transportation Priorities
Project Name: The Riverline – First Gateway
Recipient: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
Address: 181 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York 14203
Amount Requested: $900,000
Project Description and Explanation: The NFTA, in partnership with the Western New York Land Conservancy, will transform an unused, 1.5-mile, 40-acre railroad corridor in the heart of the City of Buffalo into The Riverline, an iconic, innovative, and inspiring nature trail and greenway. The project will begin implementation by designing and constructing the portion of The Riverline between Chicago Street and Louisiana Street near Downtown. This will be the first gateway to The Riverline.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Department of Transportation, Local Transportation Priorities
Project Name: Riverwalk Improvements @ new NFTA-Metro Rail DL&W Station
Recipient: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
Address: 181 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York 14203
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description and Explanation: This project will design and construct bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements along various public spaces adjacent to the new NFTA-Metro Rail DL&W Station and Ohio Street Corridor to enhance connectivity between the facility’s surrounding multi-use trail network (i.e., Shoreline Trail, Niagara River Greenway, and Empire State Trail) and areas north/south, including the Buffalo Outer Harbor, Commodore Perry Public Housing, Old First Ward, and Canalside/Cobblestone Districts. Upon completion, these bike/ped infrastructure improvements will help the project area become a gateway to key neighborhoods, shoreline, downtown Buffalo and the region.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Health Resources and Services Administration, Program Management
Project Name: Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner
Recipient: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Address: Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York, 14263
Amount Requested: $1,495,583
Project Description and Explanation: The funding would be used to purchase a new CT scanner to be used by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center primarily to conduct screenings for lung cancer. Only about 6 percent of all eligible individuals in the United States receive the recommended lung cancer screening each year. Not only will a new CT scanner allow Roswell Park to continue to offer high-quality lung cancer screenings, Roswell Park will be able invest the money saved on the cost of the scanner into standing up a free, publicly available lung cancer screening registry. Data from the registry could be shared with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other federal agencies and there will be no cost barrier to credential providers with the goal of increasing access to lung cancer screening, raising screening compliance rates, and reducing health disparities in screening and lung cancer outcomes.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Financial Services and General Government, U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Initiatives
Project Name: e-Commerce for Disadvantaged Businesses
Recipient: SUNY Buffalo State Small Business Development Center
Address: Buffalo State, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Cleveland Hall 206, Buffalo, NY 14222
Amount Requested: $750,000
Project Description and Explanation: The pandemic changed the way business is done, and an effective online presence is essential to compete. We seek to provide in depth technical e-commerce assistance for minority, women and disadvantaged businesses. The goal is to build and advance such businesses capacity and understanding of doing business on-line, through providing a menu of services, that entrepreneurs will be able to use some, or all, of depending on the their current e-commerce platform and experience. Services include building an interactive e-commerce web site, graphically design the web site (may include designing a logo, creating good copy, taking photographs, creating a place for questions, appointments, etc.), determining an appropriate payment platform, and monitoring the businesses application and usage of e-commerce.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Financial Services and General Government, Small Business Administration Initiatives, Small Business Administration
Project Name: West Side Bazaar Expansion Project
Recipient: Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc.
Address:  436 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY 14213
Amount Requested: $950,000
Project Description and Explanation: This request will outfit the West Side Bazaar with modern kitchen spaces for food prep, service, and storage for our popular international food court. The new kitchens will allow our economically disadvantaged yet aspiring restauranteurs to start their businesses and build toward their own brick and mortar establishments. WEDI’s architectural plan for the West Side Bazaar will expand from 3,200 square feet on Grant St. to 18,000 square feet in a renovated historic factory building on the rapidly revivifying Niagara St. The new West Side Bazaar will offer more shops for a wide variety of eclectic imports and professional services. WEDI plans for 24 businesses from the current 16, and to 75 seats from the current 35 in the cafe. It will be possible for the public to enjoy meals, shopping, music, cooking classes, tastings and events without requiring the hyper-vigilance a seat now requires.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here