Gillibrand seeks ‘Promise Zone’ designation for Schenectady

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, is pushing for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to designate the city of Schenectady as a federal “Promise Zone” to receive assistance for community development.

The city applied to HUD to designate the Central State Street, Hamilton Hill and Mont Pleasant neighborhoods as a Promise Zone, said Jackie Mancini, the city’s director of development.

The designation would provide federal support to programs that help create jobs, support economic development, improve educational opportunities, reduce crime and promote access to health care.

“The Promise Zone designation would allow Schenectady to continue and expand vital economic development initiatives in the region’s most distressed communities,” Gillibrand said in a statement on Monday.

In her letter to HUD Secretary Julian Castro, Gillibrand said Schenectady has “struggled economically” with the loss of the American Locomotive Company in 1969 and reduced job numbers at General Electric.

She said the loss of “much of its industry” has led to high poverty levels and high crime rates.

Gillibrand said the designation would help the city’s efforts to turn Schenectady around.

“By working with its public and private partners, the city of Schenectady remains determined to enhance the quality of life for all of its residents,” she said in the letter.

Mancini said the designation would give the city preferential advice, technical assistance and a better shot at grant funding in the future.

She said the city is expecting to hear back from HUD regarding the designation “any day now.” The city applied in the past but was not chosen, she said.

“The simple understanding is that they award them to communities that have concentrated issues relative to five focus areas,” she said. “One of which is poverty and another is educational opportunities for youth and adults. Your community also has to be engaged.”

Promise Zones are an initiative started by President Barack Obama designed to bring federal and private investment to high-poverty communities nationwide.

Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said the city should be designated as a Promise Zone because of the “continued commitment by the city and its partners to increase the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods and expand opportunities for its residents.”

Reach Gazette reporter Haley Viccaro at 395-3114, [email protected] or @HRViccaro on Twitter.

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