Passport office to open in downtown Buffalo
In a move that breathes symbolism, a U.S. passport office will open this fall in the Genesee Gateway building — aptly named for being an entrance into downtown Buffalo’s business district.
The General Services Administration (GSA) for the U.S. Department of State signed a lease for approximately 10,000 square feet in the building for the first U.S. Passport Office in Western New York.
Reps. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, and Chris Lee, R-Clarence, joined leaders from Genesee Gateway LLC and the U.S. Department of State on February 17, 2010, to announce the first tenant for the $10 million Genesee Gateway historic adaptive reuse project.
“This passport office is especially important to residents here in Western New York who consider a drive to Canada as routine as a drive to the next town over,” said Congressman Higgins, a member of the House Northern Border Caucus.
Western New Yorkers need to have the ability to travel easily across our northern border to conduct cross border commerce, a necessity to the region for many years, said Congressman Lee.
“With a one-stop shop passport office located right in our community, Western New Yorkers will be able to more easily acquire valid travel documents while not having their need to conduct cross border business negatively influenced,” he said.
Assistant Secretary Janice Jacobs said the opening of the Buffalo Agency is a significant milestone for the U.S. Department as it continues efforts to expand services to underserved areas of the nation.
“With its proximity to the Canadian border, the agency will assist U.S. citizens living along the border comply with travel document requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative,” she said.
Nearly 40 million Americans traveled overseas last year. And 96 million Americans –- more than 30 percent of U.S. citizens -– now have passports.
The U.S. Passport Office in Buffalo is expected to open to the public this fall. Approximately $700,000 in Recovery Act funds will help support the opening of the regional passport agency.
For more information about the U.S. Passport Office in the Genesee Gateway Building, read Congressman Higgins’ press release.
To read the article in Business First, click here.
