Recovery Act funding to construct Visitor Learning Center in Shirley

Congressman Tim Bishop today announced that the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in New York’s First Congressional District will receive over $9.7 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be used to build the Visitor Learning Center/Headquarters of Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Shirley.

“Building the Visitor Center will immediately put people to work and help enhance one of our community’s greatest natural resources,” Congressman Bishop said. “This project will raise the profile of the Wertheim Refuge and make it a destination for students and for residents of both the City and Long Islanders.”

"We have been working on funding for this project since 1997," Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge President Claire Goad said. "It will mean so much for the refuge system on Long Island. Having a place where visitors, school groups, senior citizens, scout troops, and the general public can come to learn about the environment and wildlife is very important."

The Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, nine refuges in all, protects some of the last significant natural areas for wildlife in the New York City metropolitan area. The Wertheim Refuge, which is the headquarters for Long Island, is 2,550 acres and is one of the last undeveloped estuary systems remaining on Long Island.

The Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex’s 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan, completed in 2006, determined that a facility was needed to enable year-round educational programs, workshops, and interpretive exhibits, along with providing offices for Fish and Wildlife Service staff. The US Fish and Wildlife Service will construct the Visitor Learning Center/ Headquarters using a standard floor plan design and incorporate energy-efficiency in order to save on costs.

This funding is included in the Recovery Act, also known as the stimulus bill, which is designed to accelerate shovel-ready projects that will create jobs and ensure our nation’s natural resources are conserved for future generations. Today, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that approximately $34.7 million will go toward 91 improvement projects across 12 states in the Northeast Region.

---