Gillibrand, Schumer Announce $6.3 Million In Federal Funding For New York City Projects

Gillibrand, Schumer Announce $6.3 Million In Federal Funding For New York City Projects

Jan 21, 2026

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that they secured $6,341,000 in federal funding for critical science and public safety projects across New York City in the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce-Justice-Science funding bill. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

"I am thrilled to bring home $6.3 million in federal funding for critical projects across the five boroughs," said Senator Gillibrand. "These projects will contribute to public safety and youth outreach programming in addition to furthering scientific innovation in New York. I am proud to deliver these funds, and I will continue working to ensure that innovative projects receive federal funding so New York City and State can thrive."

"I'm proud to deliver these critical investments to our communities to support youth development programs, provide support services to people impacted by violence, advance research at local colleges, and much more," said Senator Schumer. "These funds are supporting projects that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers, and I won't stop fighting to deliver the resources needed to better our communities."

"I established a Conviction Integrity Unit on my first day as the Queens District Attorney in January 2020. The CIU reinvestigates and resolves credible claims of actual innocence, wrongful conviction, or other circumstances of a case which undermines the office's confidence in a just outcome. More than 100 convictions have been reversed or vacated since the unit was formed, and this funding will help continue its important work. Wrongful convictions not only destroy the lives of those wrongly convicted and their families but also undermine confidence in the criminal justice system. Thank you to Senator Gillibrand and Representative Meng for their efforts in securing this vital funding," said Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz.

"NYU thanks Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support for this key investment in quantum research equipment," said New York University President Linda G. Mills. "This emerging technology will continue to position the state as a national leader in quantum materials and device research, which has attracted industry and academic collaborations that drive job creation throughout the region."

Queens College President Frank H. Wu said, "We are so appreciative of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their longstanding support of CUNY and Queens College. Scientific research is an invaluable and wise investment that advances humanity. Institutions of higher education are appropriate homes for such endeavors. Our professors and staff do their important work alongside students, benefiting our State, society and future scientists.

"Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has successfully fought for $979,000 in critical CDS funding for the Freshkills Biological Research Station in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill," said Mark Murphy, President of the Freshkills Park Alliance and Administrator of the Freshkills Park for the New York City Parks Department. "Her deep commitment to science, education, and the environment, at a time when all three are under attack, is a testament to her tireless advocacy for Staten Island, New York City, and the entire State of New York. With this funding secured, the Freshkills Park Biological Station and the Freshkills Park Alliance can grow our science and education programs exponentially. Senator Gillibrand's funding will ensure our team of scientists and educators will hit the ground running in 2026, delivering lasting benefits to the New York City Parks Department and Freshkills Park Alliance for years to come."

"Safe Horizon, the nation's largest nonprofit victim services organization, expresses deep gratitude to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her leadership in securing much needed support for our work with New Yorkers impacted by violence, abuse and exploitation," said Liz Roberts, CEO of Safe Horizon. "The Senator's designation will help bolster Safe Horizon's ability to provide trauma counseling and care to many thousands of individuals and families in crisis, while also advancing our work to build a community where safety is a human right and all people are safe in their communities, homes, bodies, and minds."

"For more than 110 years, the Police Athletic League has shown up for young people in neighborhoods across New York City-building trust, creating opportunity, and helping kids see what's possible for their future. We often say PAL is the best friend a kid can have, and this investment reflects a belief in that mission. Investing in PAL is investing in the leaders of tomorrow-not just for New York City, but for communities across the country. We are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of the young people and families we serve," said New York City Police Athletic League Chief Executive Officer Carlos Velazquez.

A full list of funded projects is below:

$2,531,000 for the New York Police Athletic League's (PAL) Youth Development Program

The funding will be used to support the New York City Police Athletic League's (PAL's) Crime Prevention through Youth Development Program across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The project will be a joint partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for 2,500 teenagers at PAL Community Youth Centers serving communities that experience higher than average juvenile crime involvement in New York City. The program will help prevent and mitigate the impact of community violence, crime, childhood trauma, and inadequate recreational, educational, mentorship, and workforce development opportunities.

$1,031,000 for Queens College, CUNY Construction of Microelectronics Nanofabrication Facility

This funding will be used to build a cleanroom facility for nanofabrication teaching and research on the CUNY Queens College campus. The facility will provide capabilities for microlithography and nanodevice fabrication that are not currently offered by any university in Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island. This facility will provide in-demand microelectronics fabrication skills to a large population of graduate students and undergraduates, including a high proportion of first-generation college students. The project will dramatically stimulate workforce development, since micro- and nanofabrication techniques are essential to the fields of semiconductors, information technology, quantum computing, laser engineering, and photonic devices.

$1,000,000 for New York University Quantum Research Equipment

This funding will be used for the purchase of a Thermal Laser Epitaxy (TLE) system for cutting-edge quantum research at New York University.

$979,000 for Freshkills Park Biological Research Station

This funding will be used for the creation of a research station hosted at the 2,200+ acre Freshkills Park on Staten Island, which is the largest landfill-to-greenspace transformation project in the world. The Freshkills Biological Station will serve as a hub for scientific expertise, education, and community-based participation, working to develop economical solutions to problems like community resilience and natural areas stewardship.

$500,000 for the Safe Horizon's Services to Survivors of Violence Program

This funding will support services to individuals who have been impacted by crime and violence. These services will be provided in close collaboration with the justice system, local police precincts, and the courts.

$300,000 for the Queens County District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit

This funding will support theOffice of the Queens County District Attorney (QDA) Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)'s efforts to partner with local, state, federal, and nonprofit criminal justice agencies to undertake thorough evaluations of past convictions where there are credible claims of innocence or wrongful conviction.

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