Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today hailed the decision by BAE Systems to remain in the Southern Tier after its Westover facility in Broome County was destroyed in flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. The congressman has helped spearhead the effort to keep the company in the region. Earlier this month, Hinchey, who serves on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and has long supported BAE's efforts to strengthen its presence in the Southern Tier, organized a critical meeting between BAE, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Empire State Development, the Broome Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and other stakeholders to find a suitable arrangement to allow BAE to maintain its presence in the Southern Tier. The congressman's office has continued to aggressively identify federal funding sources to help the company cover the expenses of relocating to another local facility.
"I'm extremely pleased that BAE has decided to remain in the Southern Tier where it has long had a strong presence both in the sheer number of people it employs and the positive contributions it makes to the community." Hinchey said. "Immediately following the flooding, I worked very aggressively to support residents and businesses that were harmed by the storm and my office continues to provide assistance each day. It was very clear that strong action needed to be taken to support BAE since its facility, which employs more than 1,300 people, had been destroyed. I am very pleased that I was able to facilitate an array of meetings and discussions while working on the federal level to identify funding sources needed to ensure the company would maintain its presence in the Southern Tier. We still have more work ahead of us to determine an actual site, but today's news is incredibly positive because we know that BAE and its employees will remain in our community."
Dan Gobel, President, BAE Systems Controls, Inc. said, "We would like to thank Congressman Hinchey for his strong support and efforts on our behalf over the past few months and look forward to our continued engagement as we move forward in New York's Southern Tier."
Hinchey has been working to secure federal assistance for BAE through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). That source of funding can be provided as a result of President Obama's Major Disaster Declaration made in the aftermath of Tropical Strom Lee. Later today, the House is expected to give final approval to a funding measure that includes $200 million in disaster relief funds for the EDA. While Hinchey had requested $500 million for the program, the $200 million level is considered a success given that Republican leaders in the House initially opposed any disaster relief funding.
"Now that I've helped secure $200 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration disaster aid in the 2012 budget, I will work with the agency to ensure that some of these funds are used to transition BAE to its new Southern Tier location."
In 1993, Hinchey brokered a deal through the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which allowed the Air Force and IDA to maintain defense contracting work at the Westover facility.
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Congressman Hinchey and Dylan Ratigan Discuss Financial Market Reformby RepMauriceHinchey172 views
Thank-you Congressman Hinchey. You are always there for us.-
Barbara Bonham
banaco53 3 months ago