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Congressman Higgins, at Ways & Means Committee Hearing on Revitalizing Distressed Communities, Calls on Extension and Improvement of Job Creation Programs
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At Higgins’ Invitation, WNY Business Leader Testifies At Hearing on the Success of Federal Economic Development Tax Incentives to Create Jobs
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Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and Buffalo-based Larkin Development Company Partner Howard Zemsky provided testimony at a House of Representatives subcommittee hearing focused on revitalizing distressed communities through the utilization of job creating tax incentive programs.
In opening remarks Congressman Higgins said, “thank you for holding this hearing today on a program that I believe holds particular promise in fostering the revitalization of older industrial cities like Buffalo, Lackawanna, and Jamestown in my district. The Renewal Communities program has been crucial in creating new markets for job creation and development where there was little hope before, and is a great example of a successful collaboration between the public and private sector to create stable and productive communities.”
The Renewal Community program, which uses tax credits to spur job creation in areas of high unemployment, is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Congressman Higgins and other members of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures are working to develop legislation to extend and improve the Renewal Community program.
Congressman Higgins, who also serves as co-chair of the House Revitalizing Older Cities Task Force, invited Howard Zemsky, a Buffalo businessman involved in redevelopment of the Larkin Building, located in the Buffalo-Lackawanna Renewal Community, to address the Ways & Means subcommittee. Mr. Zemsky spoke to the great success experienced with the Larkin Building development and the role this project has played in brining jobs back to this area.
“Today our Larkin at Exchange building is home to approximately 2000 employees working for over 30 companies and organizations. Our tenants and our neighbors also have access to an onsite childcare center, a cafeteria and a full service bank branch. The federal government’s investment, coupled with our own private investment has resulted in a reemerging and reinvigorated neighborhood which was the goal of the renewal community program,” said Zemsky during the hearing.
Congressman Higgins’ district includes, Buffalo-Lackawanna and Jamestown, two of the 40 regions designated as Renewal Communities in the United States. Since 2002 the Renewal Community program, just one of the several incentives the program offers has created 794 jobs in the City of Jamestown.
Congressman Higgins’ Chautauqua County and Erie County district offices are both located in historic buildings, within renewal community zones, that have seen significant improvement and job growth due to the designation and subsequent investment.
The Renewal Community designation is based on unemployment, crime and poverty statistics from 1990 and 2000 census data. Three additional upstate New York cities, Niagara Falls, Rochester and Schenectady, also qualify for Renewal Community tax credits. In addition, there are Empowerment Zones in Syracuse, Yonkers, and New York City. Administration of the Renewal Community and Empowerment Zone programs fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Washington, DC Office
431 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3306
Fax: 202-226-0347
Erie County Office
Larkin at Exchange 726 Exchange Street Suite 601 Buffalo, NY 14210 Phone: 716-852-3501 Fax: 716-852-3929
Chautauqua County Office
Fenton Building
2 East Second Street
Suite 300
Jamestown, NY 14701
Phone: 716-484-0729
Fax: 716-484-1049
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