Federal funding increases in appropriations bill stands to benefit Beta
Mar. 26—PLATTSBURGH — Beta Technologies looks to benefit from an increased pool of funding thanks to the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed the House Friday and was signed into law by President Joe Biden Saturday.
"This is a big win," NY-21 Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), who voted to approve and secure the funding, told the Press-Republican Monday.
These federal funds will specifically provide an additional $20 million support for the Department of Defense's Agility Prime Program that Beta — an electric aerospace manufacturer that performs cutting edge critical cargo, military and medical missions and has operated on the flight line of Plattsburgh International Airport since 2017 — has participated in since 2020.
It has not been made clear yet how much of the $20 million increase in funding will eventually be made available to Beta.
Jake Goldman, a spokesperson for BETA Technologies, said over the past several years, Beta has worked hand-in-hand with several U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) services through the Agility Prime Program with a focus on "demonstrating the electric aviation's ability to close real mission sets at a lower cost for our nation's military."
"Since the onset of our participation in the program, BETA has reached several key milestones in electric aviation, many of which have occurred at our flight test center in Plattsburgh," Goldman said.
"Programs like Agility Prime are critical to ensuring companies like BETA can continue progressing electric aviation toward domestic manufacturing and operations, which will translate to reduced dependence on foreign technologies and more robust capabilities."
Beta has continued to be on the receiving end of funding opportunities in recent months.
In December of 2023, Beta announced they would be embarking, in partnership with Clinton County, on a $41 million expansion of its operation at PBG that will lead to more jobs and a brighter era of aerospace technology; $20 million of that $41 million cost is coming from the Empire State Development's Regional Economic and Community Assistance Program through the county.
Stefanik, who visited Beta recently, is confident this increase in funding for the program will continue to make sure that Plattsburgh is making inroads and growing its defense manufacturing sector in Clinton County.
She said she keeps in touch with all the manufacturers across the district, particularly those that are looking to grow and is always looking to help support them.
"We oftentimes highlight the strength of our workforce, the other defense manufacturing companies locally and have successfully supported these manufacturing opportunities for growth in Clinton County, and we stay in close touch, not only with the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Garry Douglas, but with other economic development leaders in the region."
Chairperson of the Clinton County Legislature, Mark Henry, (R-Area 3, Chazy) also welcomed news of the increased funding.
"Today, we extend our gratitude to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for her unwavering commitment to our community's economic development and national security," Henry said.
"With her advocacy, this $20 million for the Air Force's Agility Prime program will bolster the pioneering efforts of Beta Technologies at the Plattsburgh International Airport, owned and operated by Clinton County. Congresswoman Stefanik's dedication to securing these funds not only underscores her steadfast support for our region but also highlights her tireless efforts in advancing cutting-edge innovation and job creation. We thank her for her leadership and partnership in helping to propel Clinton County forward into a future defined by technological excellence and economic prosperity."
BORDER AGENTS
As part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, millions of dollars will also go toward funding 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
This is the highest number ever funded, Stefanik said.
"This is significant, because as we have seen, our northern border patrol officers have been transferred over and over again to the southern border at the start of this catastrophic border crisis, which, I believe, is a result of Joe Biden's failed policies, but that has left our northern region without the personnel that we've needed," she said.
"And we've seen an over 800% increase in illegal crossings in the last year alone."
The funding in the appropriations bill will ensure a higher number of border patrol agents at both the southern and northern border.
"Clearly, this is top of the mind for every American," Stefanik said.
"The border crisis is having an impact on our national security, our economy and our community safety. So this is a win in the sense that it fully funds 22,000 Border Patrol agents ... So that means we'll be able to address some of the personnel challenges that have existed the past couple of years."
ESSEX COUNTY
The appropriations bill will also be giving a $25 million funding increase to the Air Force Research Lab in Rome for its annual Future Flag testing and evaluation exercise, which is conducted in the Town of Lewis in Essex County.
"They have the old missile silos, and I've been there myself with the developer and entrepreneur who purchased that site and over the past decade, we have really worked to highlight these national defense and national security assets in the North Country," Stefanik said.
"We have very strong national defense partnerships from Lewis, New York in Essex County to Rome to Fort Drum to, of course, the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and the defense manufacturers in the Clinton County community."
Email: cnewton@pressrepublican.com
Twitter: CarlySNewton
