BUFFALO - New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program has racked up a billon dollar bill and very little of that money has made its way to Buffalo Niagara.

Standing together at a brownfield site on the border of Erie and Niagara counties, Erie County Executive Collins, Buffalo Mayor Brown, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Ross, Niagara Falls Mayor Dyster, as well as other elected officials called on New York State to responsibly reform New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and to insure Buffalo Niagara gets its fair share.

While the state is currently committed to spending one billion dollars, only $100,000 or one tenth of one percent of that spending is going to Niagara County and only 25 million or less than three percent is going to Erie County.          To make matters worse, say the pubic officials, 11 projects in Erie and Niagara County which have applied for brownfield tax credits totaling approximately 50 million dollars have been blocked from acceptance by a moratorium imposed by the state earlier this year.   Those projects are expected to generate over 300 million dollars in private spending to cleanup and redevelop sites.

“As our community continues to transition from our industrial past to our place in the new global economy, brownfield redevelopment will be central to our efforts,” said Erie County Executive Chris Collins.  “We need to do everything we can to encourage business owners to locate or expand their company in the Buffalo Niagara region, as we work across county and city lines to grow our economy.  Currently, the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program is not helping to accomplish this critical mission.  Our leaders in Albany need to act and reform this program before the end of the Legislative session.”