WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) announced today that the federal government has awarded a $15 million grant to the town of Bloomsburg to build a floodwall. This new project will shield two of the town's top employers from dangerous flooding and keep 1,000 jobs from leaving the area.

The $15 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will help fund the design and construction of a floodwall around Autoneum (formerly Rieter Automotive North America) and Windsor Foods, two of Columbia County's largest employers. Both of these manufacturers are frequently flooded when the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek overflow their banks.

"Since being sworn into office, I've been meeting and talking with local officials in Columbia County to address the town's flood concerns," Sen. Toomey said. "In 2011, I held a town hall in Bloomsburg to make progress on this issue, and I am so glad the U.S. Economic Development Administration has decided to fund this important project. This grant will go a long way toward keeping jobs in Pennsylvania and protecting the citizens of Columbia County."

"I asked the U.S. Economic Development Administration to approve this grant because it will help Bloomsburg families recover, protect jobs and help the local economy," said Sen. Casey. "I am gratified that this important project will be funded to help provide a measure of protection to the people Columbia County."

Earlier this month, Sens. Toomey and Casey joined U.S. Representative Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) in sending a letter to the regional Economic Development Administration office offering their strong support for Columbia's County's grant application.

A full copy of the letter is below:

October 5, 2012

Mr. Willie C. Taylor
The Curtis Center
601 Walnut Street, Suite 140 South
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3323

Dear Mr. Taylor:

We write to you today on behalf of Columbia County, Pa. Pursuant to the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Fiscal Year 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity authority, the county has applied for funds made available for economic recovery and disaster resiliency. We understand that the Philadelphia Region has been allocated $53,735,000 for this purpose.

Encompassing 31,193 miles of river and streams in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, the Susquehanna River Basin is one of the most flood-prone in the country. The town of Bloomsburg, which resides within and is the seat of Columbia County, is always particularly hard hit, as it is in the Middle Susquehanna River sub-basin and bounded to the south by the Susquehanna River and to the north and west by Fishing Creek. Extensive portions of the town, including more than 500 residential structures and 75 businesses and local government buildings, are within the 500-year floodplain. As of today major, destructive flooding has occurred in this area 33 times since 1901.

As the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek rise simultaneously above flood stage, overbank flooding can cover up to 33 percent of the land mass within the town's boundaries. This flooding jeopardizes two of Columbia County's largest employers - Autoneum and Windsor Foods. These employers, which provide good-paying manufacturing jobs and provide a substantial tax revenue stream, have suffered repeated flood events, particularly in recent years as upriver flood-protection projects have sent more water downriver. These companies must suspend operations and lift expensive, proprietary equipment above their floors before flood events or even near-flood events. Because of this preparation alone, these manufacturing firms incur a tremendous expense. When flooding does occur, it results in additional costly repair, replacement, and cleanup expenses. It is only a matter of time before these companies cease local operations and relocate, taking at least 1,000 jobs out of Columbia County, out of Pennsylvania, and possibly out of the United States.

Additionally, according to a 2005 study commissioned by United States Army Corps of Engineers, average annual urban damages from flooding in Bloomsburg exceed $4.5 million. Floods disrupt local businesses, educational centers, law enforcement agencies, emergency responders and utility providers. Floods compromise critical infrastructure of the town, including its drinking water, sewer services, road networks, and overall transportation systems.

Simply put, flooding of the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek creates a clear and present danger for the residents and businesses of the town of Bloomsburg, along with its adjacent communities. There is a persistent, direct threat to lives and to commercial, public and private property.

Therefore, in order to protect Columbia County and its top two employers, the county would like to secure $15 million for the construction of a floodwall/levee system. Completion of this project would allow for protection at each facility and would secure their vital production areas from future flooding. Furthermore, it would preserve a combined workforce of about 1,000 American jobs with an annual payroll of $37 million, all of which are vital to the economy of the Bloomsburg area. Lastly, this project is quite possibly the only way to prevent the probable outsourcing of these jobs from not just Pennsylvania, but quite possibly from the United States.

We would like to express our strong support for Columbia County's application and request that the Bloomsburg Flood Resilience Project receive your full and fair consideration.

Thank you for your attention to our request.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator

Pat Toomey
United States Senator

Lou Barletta
Member of Congress