Rochester, NY – The Greater Rochester Majority State Delegation, including Assemblymember Sarah Clark, Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Assemblymember Demond Meeks, Senator Jeremy Cooney, and Senator Samra Brouk, are pleased to announce a number of significant investments and policy achievements for Rochester and Monroe County stemming from the recently completed 2026-2027 New York State budget. Throughout the legislative session, the delegation has worked together, and in partnership with local leaders, to advance shared priorities and deliver meaningful results for the Rochester community. The results of this work and collaboration are an unprecedented investment in the city of Rochester and the surrounding regions, delivering critical resources that will strengthen our communities and support long-term growth.

Leading the way is a historic $300 million capital investment in The Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative, representing one of the largest state commitments to the region in recent memory. This transformative funding package includes $75 million dedicated to the development of the new High Falls State Park, a landmark project that will reconnect residents and visitors with one of Rochester's most iconic natural assets while serving as a catalyst for economic development and tourism in the heart of downtown. The remaining funding will support a wide range of capital improvements and strategic infrastructure projects throughout the city and county, including upgrades to public facilities, transportation and streetscape enhancements, neighborhood revitalization efforts, and critical public safety investments.

Recognizing the importance of stable municipal funding, the delegation fought to secure additional Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding,a top priority during this year's budget negotiations. Through a coordinated advocacy effort, the delegation successfully secured $15 million in base AIM funding for the City of Rochester and an additional $20 million as part of the severely financially distressed cities funds. This huge investment will help provide critical support for essential city services and local priorities. This AIM funding is significantly larger than previous years and will help Rochester address rising costs, maintain core services, and continue making strategic investments in public safety, infrastructure, and neighborhood revitalization, all while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

Finally, $20 million in state funding has been secured for Monroe County to support a groundbreaking universal child care pilot program. This significant investment will expand access to affordable, high-quality child care for working families while helping address one of the most pressing challenges facing parents, caregivers, and employers across our region. The pilot is expected to create 1,000 new child care slots for children ages zero to three by 2027, substantially increasing capacity in an area that has long been considered a child care desert. By expanding access to early childhood care and education, this initiative will support workforce participation, strengthen family economic stability, and serve as a model for innovative child care policy across Upstate New York.

The investments secured in this year's state budget reflect the Rochester delegation's shared commitment to advocating for the needs of our community and working collaboratively to deliver meaningful results. Through close coordination with local governments, community organizations, business leaders, and residents, the delegation worked to ensure Rochester's priorities remained at the forefront throughout the budget process. The result is a budget that delivers substantial resources to support critical infrastructure projects, strengthen local services, expand opportunities for working families, enhance public safety, and promote long-term economic growth across the region.

These investments will help address both immediate community needs and the challenges of the future, providing local governments and community partners with the tools necessary to continue building a stronger and more resilient Rochester. The delegation remains committed to working alongside local stakeholders to ensure these resources are implemented effectively, maximize their impact, and create lasting benefits for residents throughout Rochester and Monroe County. Together, these investments represent an important step forward in advancing shared priorities and supporting the continued growth and success of our region.

Assemblymember Sarah Clark said, “This year’s final enacted state budget contains transformational investments in our city and region. I could not be more proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in the Rochester delegation and with leaders across our community to make today a reality. From historic investments in our downtown city center, to the creation of more than 1,000 new child care spots and huge increases in support for city government, this budget delivers for working families and strengthens the foundation of our community for years to come.

Our achievements are the result of sustained advocacy and a shared commitment to ensuring Rochester receives the resources it deserves. I am grateful to everyone who helped make these investments possible, and I look forward to our continued partnerships as we put these resources to work for the people of Rochester and Monroe County.”

Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “I am proud that working together as a Delegation, in collaboration with local leaders, we’ve secured significant and record investments for Rochester and Monroe County in the FY27 state budget to deliver real results that will make life more affordable for our families and uplift our local economy. From increasing AIM funding, to the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative, to a Universal Child Care Pilot, these investments reflect a commitment to improving the quality of life for people in our districts and ensuring strong foundations, prosperity, and resiliency for generations to come.”

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford said, “Ensuring that Rochester gets its fair share has been the guiding principle of this delegation since we took office. Between the influx of capital and aid dollars, as well as the childcare pilot, Rochester is well positioned to continue its progress towards greater safety, equity and opportunity for all. I am incredibly proud to be a part of this delegation who continue to row in the same direction – towards justice; towards prosperity; and towards a New York that works for everyone.”

Assemblymember Demond Meeks said, "This budget represents historic investments for the people of Rochester and Monroe County that my State delegation colleagues, and I worked tirelessly to bring back to our community.

These investments, including $300 million in capital funding and $10 million in vital AIM funding, allows us to directly address structural needs and invest in areas that have often been overlooked. Delivering the necessary resources to revitalize our neighborhoods, improve public safety, and build up the public spaces our residents deserve is critical to the long-term success of our region.

Equally critical, is the $20 million universal childcare pilot program. As a father and a grandfather, I know firsthand how essential reliable, safe, and nurturing care is for a child's development and a family's peace of mind. Access to affordable, quality early childhood education is a fundamental need, and creating 1,000 new slots directly targets the child care deserts that have trapped working parents and hindered our local workforce. By lifting this financial burden, we are tackling systemic inequities, supporting our families, and providing our youngest children with a strong foundation.

I am incredibly proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Rochester majority delegation to secure these meaningful, long-term investments that have potential to be transformative for our community.”

Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Alongside my state delegation colleagues, we went to bat for Monroe County to achieve record investments into areas like High Falls, prioritize the affordability needs of our community members most in need, support our students, and increase the quality of life for our neighbors. I want to thank my colleagues for their steadfast support of our community and I’m grateful that our partnership proved fruitful for Rochesterians in this year’s budget.”

Senator Samra Brouk said, “While the federal administration cut funding for critical programs, New York State delivered a budget with meaningful investments for Rochester. We increased Foundation Aid funding by 2 percent for every school district in SD-55; allocated $88.2 million in AIM funding, $15 million in TMA, and an additional $20 million in aid for Rochester; enacted protections for immigrants and accountability measures for ICE; passed substantial utility reforms; fought for a 2.7% targeted inflationary increase for the human services sector; won a $250k investment in the Doula expansion grant program to increase access to maternal care resources; and secured another historic state investment of $8 million for Daniel’s Law pilot programs to help develop compassionate responses for individuals in crisis across the state. Thank you to my colleagues in the Greater Rochester Delegation for helping deliver the investments that Rochester needs to thrive.”

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said, “I want to thank Rochester’s legislative delegation for fighting for a New York State Budget that includes much-needed additional funding for our city and drives critical investments in Rochester and Monroe County. The programs and projects funded in this budget will advance our efforts to drive growth, attract investment, and put all our residents on a path to economic mobility and generational wealth.”