SCHOHARIE, NY. - Millions of dollars in economic development relief for victims of Irene and Lee is caught in bureaucratic red tape instead of being divided out to the businesses that need it most.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer made a stop in Schoharie Monday to call out the federal government and ask them to move the process along so business can get the money they need.
Six months have passed since the storms caused tremendous damage and most of the businesses in downtown are still closed. Some of those business owners and residents say they're worried about what will happen to their town the longer the stores and restaurants are closed.
Right now, $200 Million in economic development relief for disaster areas in the Capital Region is stuck in the appropriations committees in both the Senate and the House. Schumer says that's because the leaders of those committees have not approved the guidelines for those funds.
Schumer along with Congressman Paul Tonko and Assemblyman Peter Lopez are working together to urge the lawmakers to send out the funds. have not approved the guidelines for how the funds should be spent.
The worst case scenario is that the committees don't get to the funds until October, the end of the fiscal year, and the capital region loses the funds. Schumer says he's going to do his best to keep that form happening.
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