WASHINGTON — The City of Buffalo and Johnson Controls Inc. were recently honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award in Public/Private Partnerships by the United States Conference of Mayors.

The award for the Buffalo Joint Schools Construction Board (JSCB), a $1 billion, 80-school modernization project involving renovation and reconstruction of the city’s aging schools, was presented at the Conference of Mayors' 71st Winter Meeting in Washington.

In June 2002, the JSCB chose The Ciminelli Construction Companies to head this initiative. As part of the Ciminelli team, Johnson Controls is helping to carry out the plan, which is supported by the New York State Education Department with a 93.7 percent building aid reimbursement that leverages $671 million in private capital investment.

“This project not only provides state-of-the-art, attractive, and healthy learning environments in schools that will become hubs of revitalized neighborhoods, but the collaborative approach in every aspect of the program brings economic development to the entire city,” stated Jeff Crenshaw, director, public sector business, Johnson Controls.

Publication date: 02/10/2003