News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, May 31, 2017
Contact: Mike Fraser, office: (518) 455-3751/cell: (518) 859-8518
Kolb Receives Community Partnership Award
For Efforts On Behalf Of Disability Community
Arc Of Seneca Cayuga Recognizes Assembly Minority Leader For
Work To Support People With Developmental Disabilities

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) has received the "Community Partnership Award" for 2016-2017 from the Arc of Seneca Cayuga for his work in support of the developmental disability community. The award was announced Thursday night at the organization's Annual Meeting at the Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva.

"It is a genuine honor to receive this award, and especially meaningful because of everything the Arc of Seneca Cayuga represents," Leader Kolb said. "The incredible work done every day by the men and women of the Arc of Seneca Cayuga is invaluable to communities across the Finger Lakes. I will always fight on behalf of direct-care workers and the individuals they serve. Thank you to Executive Director Kevin Smith and the entire organization for this recognition."

Leader Kolb and the Assembly Minority Conference successfully advocated for the inclusion of $55 million in this year's state budget, allowing direct-care workers to receive competitive salaries as the industry faces workforce pressures as a result of the $15/hour minimum wage increase. For the past year, the Minority Conference has held forums across New York to hear the concerns facing the developmental disability community, and in 2013, fought to restore $90 million in proposed budget cuts that threatened services and programs for those with disabilities.

"Assembly Minority Leader Kolb provided the leadership to include $55 million in this year's state budget to assure a much-needed wage increase will be a reality this January," Arc of Seneca Cayuga Executive Director Kevin M. Smith said. "Leader Kolb has been a supporter of our field for many years. His efforts have contributed to recognition of the critical nature of the issues faced by people with developmental disabilities and their families. We are very pleased to present our Community Partnership Award to Assemblyman Kolb."

The Arc of Seneca Cayuga provides services, programs and support for roughly 1,200 individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the Finger Lakes region. Staffed with 600 dedicated employees, the organization is the largest provider of services for people with disabilities in the area. The Community Partnership Award acknowledges achievement in promoting independence, productivity, community integration and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.