Creates Cabinet to Help Municipalities Access Federal Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Funds

Command Center in the Capitol will Ensure Cross-Agency Coordination, Broad Regional Representation

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the New York State Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet to manage the development of State and local infrastructure projects financed through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The cabinet will be composed of State agency heads and senior staff from the Governor’s Office. Timothy J. Gilchrist will serve as Senior Advisor for Infrastructure and Transportation, a position created to lead the cabinet. Mr. Gilchrist, who had been serving as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure, will oversee the distribution of federal funds throughout the State for projects involving transportation, water and sewer, energy, technology and other infrastructure. Under Mr. Gilchrist’s leadership, the Cabinet will work closely with local governments to ensure federal dollars reach critical projects and put people to work as quickly as possible.

“These economic recovery funds provide a unique opportunity for New York to embark on State and local projects that will have a lasting impact on all aspects of our infrastructure, from schools to highways,” said Governor Paterson. “Now that the Senate has passed the economic recovery bill, I encourage both houses to work quickly to reach a compromise, and will make the distribution of these funds a top priority. As we struggle to close our $13 billion budget deficit, this Cabinet will ensure that critical projects move forward and that our local governments are fully prepared to put these funds to use and get people back to work.”

In preparation for the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act package, the Governor’s Office has been actively engaged in outreach to municipal leaders and county executives throughout the State, including the New York State Association of Counties, the New York Association of Towns and the New York Conference of Mayors. Through this outreach, the Governor’s office has received requests for stimulus project financing from localities across the State for roads, bridges, water/sewer infrastructure, community development projects and broadband infrastructure, among others. These projects have been forwarded to the relevant State agencies, and the agencies are evaluating the projects and determining whether they meet the requirements of the federal economic recovery and reinvestment package. Local government officials and leaders may continue to submit project information and financing requests to the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet via email at EconomicRecovery@chamber.state.ny.us.

The Cabinet will continue this active outreach through regional and trade meetings in close collaboration with the Governor’s Washington, D.C. office. Once the key differences between the House and Senate bill are resolved the Cabinet will provide each county, city and town in the State with a letter outlining federal programs and requirements, and will work with New York’s Congressional Delegation and municipalities on identifying eligible projects. Project selection will be made by the relevant agencies in consultation with the Cabinet, based upon the federal project selection criteria outlined in the final American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet will utilize a designated suite on the Second Floor of the Capitol as a stimulus command center, complete with computer-aided mapping equipment. State agencies will assign staff to work in the command center to ensure cross-agency coordination.

The Cabinet will be charged with identifying project delivery problems such as permits or regulatory approvals and resolving the problems to speed project delivery. The Cabinet will also oversee the distribution of funds to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of federal funds.

State Agencies in the Cabinet include the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Thruway Authority, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Environmental Facilities Corporation, Department of Labor, the Department of State, the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Office of Parks and Historic Preservation, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the State University of New York, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Office of Homeland Security, the Dormitory Authority, the Office of General Services, the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York Power Authority, the Long Island Power Authority, the Public Service Commission, the Office for Technology, the Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination and the Division of the Budget.

Prior to his appointment as Senior Advisor, Mr. Gilchrist served Governor Paterson as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure, overseeing the major economic development, infrastructure and transportation agencies and authorities in the State. Before he joined the Executive Chamber, Mr. Gilchrist served for over 26 years at the New York State Department of Transportation in a variety of management roles including the Director of Strategic Planning. Mr. Gilchrist earned his Bachelors of Arts from the State University of New York at Oswego and his Masters Degree from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.