U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is working to gain recently extended New Market Tax Credits for Roswell Park in Buffalo so the cancer hospital so it can build a $42 million Clinical Sciences Center.
Schumer, appearing at Roswell Wednesday, said he is hoping to secure another $25 million in tax credits. That would provide Roswell with $4 million -- the final amount Roswell needs for the project.
RPCI has allocated more $38 million toward the new building from community donations, the Making Room to Save Lives Campaign and from the Institute's capital budget.
New York senior senator said he has received a pledge from the president of the National Development Council.
"They've gotten a large allocation of new market credits. He pledged to work with me to get the Roswell project done. It doesn't mean we've gotten it, but it means that we've gotten good news and we have a very good chance of getting it," Schumer said.
"I'm optimistic enough to say that by fall, Roswell could secure the credits you need to move the project forward."
The center would provide additional chemotherapy treatment chairs, more breast cancer screening and new cancer research. Roswell President and CEO Dr. Donald Trump says there is a high demand for more treatment space.
"We are an aging population, so there are more patients with cancer than ever before and the need for services at Roswell park continues to accelerate," Trump said.
Roswell says it hopes to break ground this spring.