Flood mitigation & infrastructure money help kick off Climate Week in New York

ALBANY, N.Y. — On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $80 million in grants for flood mitigation and water infrastructure improvement projects. Nearly half a million will go towards central New York upgrades.

“Climate Week reminds us of what’s at stake: protecting homes, businesses, public safety and our precious natural resources,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is strategically investing in improvements that are both environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible for a cleaner, greener New York.”

The announcement includes funding through three grant programs administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC):

• $15.1 million in Green Resiliency Grants is awarded to the New York City Housing Authority, the City of Long Beach and Lewis County for large-scale stormwater management projects. EFC will begin accepting applications in October for $45 million in available funding
• $16.8 million through the Green Innovation Grant Program for eight projects from Buffalo to Westchester County using nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, or improving water efficiency
• $3.1 million in Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grants to jumpstart 63 water quality projects statewide by giving local governments resources to develop engineering plans so they may access additional funding for construction

Central New York received several grants for wastewater infrastructure engineering. They include:

• Village of Canastota, $50,000
• Village of Chittenango, $50,000
• Village of Mc Graw, $50,000
• Village of Moravia, $50,000
• Oswego County, $50,000
• Village of Parish, $100,000
• Village of Pulaski, $50,000
• Town of Volney, $50,000

The Green Resiliency Grants, launched by Governor Hochul as part of her resiliency agenda in her 2024 State of the State, are funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, a historic $4.2 billion investment in New York’s environment, resilience and economy. Green Innovation and Planning Grants are funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, EFC’s primary financial tool for investing in wastewater infrastructure improvements. The State Revolving Funds deliver more than $1 billion in low-cost financing and grants annually to New York communities.

EFC’s green grant programs are helping to strengthen the resiliency of water systems statewide. Green infrastructure acts as a sponge to help capture and treat stormwater before it reaches pipes and ultimately, treatment plants, reducing strain on sewer systems and safeguarding water bodies. Green investments can mitigate flooding impacts, improve water quality, lower urban heat effects and support community revitalization.

EFC’s planning grants encourage communities to move forward with wastewater and sewer projects by funding the development of an engineering report. This program helps communities advance fiscally sound and well-designed projects to construction and empowers communities to seek additional funding. EFC has awarded $32 million to fund 758 engineering reports since 2012, leading to the development of projects totaling $2 billion to modernize wastewater infrastructure statewide.