Cuomo announces USD$11.5m to upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems in NY

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday announced that the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved more than $11.5 million in grants, interest-free loans, and low-cost loans to support vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York.

According to the Governor’s office, this funding will provide assistance for drinking water and wastewater projects in Upstate communities. The Board approval includes nearly $3.4 million in grants awarded under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

“Investments in our water infrastructure are vital to the growth and prosperity of communities across New York,” Governor Cuomo said.

“These projects address the specific water infrastructure needs of each community to ensure clean, safe water, and provide meaningful savings to hardworking taxpayers, while laying the foundation for future growth,” he added.

To date, $225 million in Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grants have leveraged over $1 billion in total project costs for over 120 projects in New York State. These grants resulted in over $629 million in taxpayer savings.

Additionally, as part of the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017, $255 million in funding for vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades is currently available. $225 million is available through WIIA and $30 million is available under the new Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program. For more information on the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and Intermunicipal grant programs, as well as an application, visit www.efc.ny.gov/NYSWaterGrants. EFC will be accepting applications for these two grant programs until June 23, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty said, “Under Governor Cuomo, New York leads the nation in its commitment to upgrading or replacing our aging water infrastructure. EFC works with municipalities across the State to provide low-cost capital and grants for water quality projects at the lowest possible cost.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Chair Basil Seggos said, “Governor Cuomo continues to lead the nation in making record investments to update wastewater infrastructure and ensure all of New York’s communities have access to clean drinking water. The grants and funding announced today are critical investments that will help support the state’s economy and strengthen communities statewide.”

The grants approved, along with the interest-free and low-interest loans provided by EFC allow municipalities to finance these projects at a significantly lower rate than financing on their own.

 The projects approved at the June 1 meeting include:

Mid-Hudson

Town of Liberty (Sullivan County) – $3.4 million, including a $2 million WIIA grant, and a $1.4 million zero interest loan to finance the costs associated with the construction of a new water storage tank; replacement of aged water mains, well pumps, and a new emergency generator to improve the system’s compliance with current standards.

Mohawk Valley

Village of Frankfort (Herkimer County) – A $6.2 million low-interest loan to finance the costs associated with the planning, design and construction of collection system improvements in the Village of Frankfort.

City of Oneonta (Otsego County) – $1.8 million, including a $1.2 million WIIA grant to finance the costs of relining existing aged cast iron raw water transmission main to improve flows and structural integrity.

North Country

Village of Harrisville (Lewis Country) – A $120,000 WIIA grant to replace the aged undersized Church Street 4 inch diameter water main with a new 8 inch diameter water main to improve flows and reduce leakage and breaks and meet current design standards.

New York State leads the nation with the largest annual investment in water-quality infrastructure of any state. Since 2011, EFC has provided more than $11.5 billion in subsidized loans, grants and loan re-financings to local governments. (Excerpts taken from NY Governor’s Office website)