Governor Hochul Marks the Start of Climate Week NYC Announcing $80 Million in Grants for Flood Mitigation and Water Infrastructure Improvement Projects

Governor Hochul today announced $80 million in grants to combat extreme weather by reducing flooding, improving water quality and strengthening the resiliency of critical infrastructure statewide. This announcement during Climate Week underscores the Governor's continued commitment to help municipalities be more climate resilient by equipping them with resources to affordably modernize critical systems while keeping costs down for local ratepayers.

"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."

Today's 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.

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.

EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, "New York's communities are facing increasingly intense storms and the growing challenges that come with aging water infrastructure. Governor Hochul is giving municipalities the resources they need to tackle these challenges without putting undue burden on families and businesses. EFC is proud to partner with communities across the State to deliver investments that protect water quality, strengthen resilience and help ensure these essential improvements are affordable for local ratepayers."

The grants announced today will support projects across every region of the State:

Green Resiliency Grant Awards

• New York City Housing Authority, $6.7 million for the planning, design and construction of bioretention and subsurface detention practices at the Dyckman Houses and Nagle Avenue to mitigate flooding and improve water quality in the Harlem River.
• City of Long Beach (Long Island), $6.1 million for the planning, design and construction of porous pavement along Park Avenue to mitigate flooding and improve water quality in the Reynolds Channel.
• Lewis County (North Country), $2.3 million for the planning, design and construction of bioretention and a detention basin in the Village of Lowville to mitigate flooding and improve water quality in Mill Creek.

Green Innovation Grant Program Awards

• Buffalo Sewer Authority (Western New York), $2.7 million for the planning, design and construction of subsurface infiltration and tree trench practices to improve water quality in the Buffalo River.
• City of Peekskill (Hudson Valley), $3 million for the planning, design and construction of bioretention, tree trench, harvest and reuse, and streambank stabilization practices at Riverfront Park to improve water quality in the Hudson River.
• Town of Schroeppel, (Central New York), $900,000 for the planning, design and construction of bioretention, bioslope and dry swale practices at the William J. Farley Jr. Community Park to improve water quality in the Oswego River.
• Village of Rye Brook (Hudson Valley), $3 million for the planning, design and construction of subsurface infiltration and streambank stabilization practices to mitigate flooding at Avon Circle-Port Chester Middle School and improve water quality in Blind Brook.
• Save the Sound, Inc. (Hudson Valley), $1.4 million for the planning, design and construction of Hartsdale Dam removal, floodplain restoration, riparian buffer and stormwater wetland practices to improve water quality in the Bronx River.
• City of Ogdensburg (North Country), $3 million to install water meters to reduce the demand on the Ogdensburg Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant and protect water quality in the St. Lawrence River.
• Village of Gouverneur (North Country), $2.3 million to install water meters to reduce the demand on the wastewater treatment facility and protect water quality in the Oswegatchie River.
• City of Rochester (Finger Lakes), $450,000 to upgrade water meters to reduce the demand on the Frank E. VanLare Sewage Treatment Plant and protect water quality in Lake Ontario.

Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant Awards

Capital Region

• Albany County Water Purification District, $50,000
• Albany Water Board, $50,000
• Village of Ballston Spa, $50,000
• Town of Cairo, $50,000
• Village of Castleton-On-Hudson, $50,000
• City of Glens Falls, $50,000
• Town of Hunter, $50,000
• Town of Lake Luzerne, $25,000
• Rensselaer County, $50,000
• City of Rensselaer, $34,000
• City of Schenectady, $50,000
• Village of South Glens Falls, $50,000
• City of Troy, $50,000
• Washington County Sewer District No. 2, $50,000
• Town of Windham, $50,000

Central New York

• 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

Finger Lakes

• Town of Carlton, $50,000
• Village of Churchville, $50,000
• Town of Gorham, $50,000
• Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority, $50,000
• Village of Penn Yan, $50,000
• Village of Sodus, $50,000
• Town of Sparta, $50,000
• Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority, $50,000

Long Island

• Village of Patchogue, $50,000

Hudson Valley

• Town of Esopus, $50,000
• Village of Monticello, $50,000
• Town of New Windsor, $50,000
• City of Newburgh, $50,000
• Village of Pawling, $50,000
• City of Peekskill, $50,000
• Town of Poughkeepsie, $50,000

Mohawk Valley

• Town of Annsville, $50,000
• Village of Cobleskill, $50,000
• City of Little Falls, $50,000
• Village of Sylvan Beach, $32,000

North Country

• Village of Copenhagen, $50,000
• Town of Hounsfield, $50,000
• Town of Indian Lake, $50,000
• Village of Massena, $50,000
• Town of Newcomb, $36,000
• Village of Philadelphia, $50,000
• City of Plattsburgh, $50,000
• Town of Plattsburgh, $50,000
• Town of Waverly, $50,000
• Village of West Carthage, $50,000

Southern Tier

• City of Binghamton, Two grants at $50,000 each
• Town of Andes, $50,000
• Town of Jasper, $50,000
• Town of Owego, $50,000
• Union, Town of $50,000
• Village of Wayland, $50,000

Western New York

• Town of Cherry Creek, $50,000
• Niagara Falls Water Board, $50,000
• Town of Pomfret, $50,000

Nation-Leading Investments in Water Infrastructure

Under Governor Hochul, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The FY27 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion committed to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC's investments using the interactive project impact dashboard.