Lackawnna, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) announced funding on Thursday to allow the rail yard at Renaissance Commerce Park in Lackawanna to move South. He says this will allow more development at the former Bethlehem Steel site.
Kennedy says he was able to secure the $1.795 million in funding during his previous tenure in the State Senate, and will enable the relocation of railroad facilities at Renaissance Commerce Park on the former site of Bethlehem Steel in the City of Lackawanna.
He adds the Buffalo & Erie County Industrial Land Development Corporation, the land development arm of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, has entered into a purchase sale agreement to acquire 40 additional acres of the former steel manufacturing site, building upon the 200 acres that currently constitute Renaissance Commerce Park.
Kennesy does note a portion of the site is encumbered with existing South Buffalo Railway Companies rail yard facilities, making it impossible to derive economic benefit from the additional acreage. Kennedy says the funding will enable the relocation of the facilities to an agreed-upon site further back on the property that will facilitate new redevelopment opportunities while also preserving South Buffalo Railway Company's important operations.
"Renaissance Commerce Park is among the most important economic development projects in Western New York, bringing new businesses into Lackawanna, creating jobs, and building our tax base," said Rep. Kennedy. "I was very proud to work with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins during my time in the Senate to deliver these funds to enable Erie County to unlock another 40 acres of former industrial land for redevelopment. As our country looks to shore up our domestic supply chains, manufacturers and other employers are desperate to find shovel-ready sites like this. Under County Executive Poloncarz's leadership, I have every confidence that we will continue to see growth and progress at Renaissance Commerce Park."
"Erie County and our partners at the ECIDA/ILDC, the City of Lackawanna, and of course, the members of the Western New York delegation in the State legislature, have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up and redevelop the industrial wasteland that was left by the closure of Bethlehem Steel," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. "This additional $1.795 million secured by Congressman Kennedy will continue these efforts, bringing more land online for remediation and redevelopment. We are seeing success right in front of us, with Sucro Sourcing, Welded Tube, TMP Technologies, two brand new Uniland buildings, and two public roads for the first time in this site's history.
"Erie County can compete with anywhere nationally and internationally, but it takes smart investments of this kind. We also need to pass the legislation introduced by then-Senator Kennedy and Assemblymember Rivera to extend these brownfield tax credits, which help combat inefficient sprawl and unlock the full potential of Renaissance Commerce Park."
"The city of Lackawanna is grateful to Congressman Kennedy, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and our WNY delegation in the state legislature for securing this additional funding to continue developing Renaissance Commerce Park, a transformational project that is fueling a rebirth of our local economy, tax base and employment opportunities," added City of Lackawanna Mayor Annette Iafallo. "Lackawanna also strongly supports the passing of legislation extending the state's brownfield tax credits, which are vital for attracting the sizable public and private partnership investments necessary to restore economic vibrancy to abandoned industrial sites like the former Bethlehem Steel Plant."
Foam products manufacturer TMP Technologies opened its new facility at RCP in 2021, followed by Uniland Development's two warehouse/distribution facilities and sugar refiner Sucro Sourcing.
In early 2022, Erie County and ILDC began the process of acquiring an additional 40 acres from Tecumseh for Phase II of Renaissance Commerce Park, where the WYE railyard is currently located.
