Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C-Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks) spoke at the 2nd Annual Mohawk Valley Brownfields Developer Summit at Miners Table Restaurant in Herkimer last evening. This summit aims to bring all six counties of the Mohawk Valley—Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie—together to discuss revitalization strategies for brownfields. Brownfields are former commercial or industrial properties that have fallen into disrepair or are potentially contaminated. Through environmental funding and remediation efforts, however, such properties can be redeveloped to fill a niche within New York communities.

“I’m very pleased that multiple municipalities within Fulton, Herkimer and Montgomery counties are now eligible for the Brownfields Program funding, but this is only the beginning,” said Smullen. “Additional funding for safe, sustainable cleanup of properties is something I have long advocated for to help support struggling neighborhoods within these counties, and there are still more communities that would greatly benefit from repurposing existing brownfields.”

Smullen said additional Climate and Economic Justice funding is required for local communities so they can experience healthy, clean environments. Cleaning up contaminated properties that can still be put to good use is resourceful but generating funds for addressing other environmental concerns in our counties is also essential.

“Much-needed space and resources that have the potential to be salvaged should be returned to our communities, and I look forward to seeing how brownfield funding and cleanup efforts help improve and revitalize these counties. We should support residents in need and make New York state a better place to live by continuing to advocate for Climate Justice funding. I have engaged with the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District as well as the multiple counties I represent across the Mohawk Valley itself. As a representative of this district, I look forward to working alongside my constituents well into the future to address these important environmental concerns,” Smullen concluded.