December 15th, 2023
Yesterday, Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello and City of Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans joined leaders across New York State at the White House to participate in a roundtable discussion on the impact of federal programs on local communities.
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Office of Public Engagement invited prominent New Yorkers to participate in the Communities in Action Initiative and discuss the impacts of major Biden-Harris Administration initiatives, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act.
The Communities in Action: Building a Better New York is the most recent of a series of meetings the White House Offices of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement have held with states across the country. During the half-day forum, participants heard from Biden-Harris Administration officials and reported out on the impacts of federal programs on local communities.
“We owe President Biden, Vice President Harris and their administration a great deal of thanks for the investments they are making in Rochester and Monroe County. Yesterday, the Mayor and I met with administration officials to share stories about the transformational effects ARPA, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Act are having on our recovery efforts,” said Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello. “We also offered thanks for our recent designation as a Regional Tech Hub as part of the recent CHIPS and Science ACT, which promises to build on our region’s legacy of innovation and attract millions of dollars in investments.”
Monroe County Executive Bello went on to say, “Monroe County received $144 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, and those dollars are already being felt in our community – be it the new Family Justice Center operated by Willow, additional housing and expanded services for our veterans at the Veterans Outreach Center, or the millions of dollars in small business loans being administered by our Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation – these dollars are making a difference in the lives of Monroe County residents.”
Mayor Evans said, “We are fortunate to have been given the opportunity to meet with federal administration officials to discuss our work in Rochester. The City is using the $202.1 million in ARPA funds we have received across a wide variety of projects to help set a foundation for a prosperous future, generate increased opportunities for economic empowerment, build safer and more vibrant neighborhoods, and promote equity, inclusion and social justice in our city.”
Mayor Evans continued, “In addition to the Biden-Harris Administration, Monroe County and the City of Rochester are thankful to our hard-working federal delegation that consistently delivers for our residents, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Joe Morelle.”
