October 1 , 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON, SENATOR SCHUMER AND CONGRESSMAN ARCURI ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR ONEIDA COUNTY CLEAN WATER PROJECTS
Governor David A. Paterson, Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Michael Arcuri today announced the award of more than $1 million for clean water projects in Oneida County. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds were awarded through a new State initiative known as the Green Innovation Grant Program, which promotes sustainable water infrastructure and technologies. The awards will allow for much-needed improvements to County’s water system through environmentally sensitive solutions.
“These investments boost local economies and create new jobs, while also promoting our environmental sustainability. Oneida County will soon see innovative solutions to the stormwater damage done to our rivers, lakes, and streams,” Governor Paterson said. “I applaud President Obama, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Representative Arcuri and all of our Congressional Delegation for their work to secure these critical funds that promote economic recovery, development and environmental stewardship.”
“This money is a solid start in addressing the massive water and sewer needs of Utica and Rome,” Senator Schumer said. “It will reduce the burden on local tax payers, improve the environment and improve the quality of life for everyone in Oneida county. This project is a win for everyone involved, and I will keep fighting for funds until Utica’s, Rome’s and Oneida’s water and sewer needs have been met.”
“When I voted for the Recovery Bill in February, I pledged to fight to secure Federal funding to help the City of Utica and Oneida County make necessary upgrades to our aging water and sewer systems,” Congressman Arcuri said. “These are the first funds allocated to these projects and I am pleased to have worked with Governor Paterson to secure this funding that will protect local ratepayers from being saddled with the entire cost of these projects.”
The first award of $831,100 the City of Utica will be used to purchase and install rain barrels, plant new trees, and create new tree pits at various locations throughout the city in an effort to mitigate stormwater impacts to the Mohawk River. The second award of $250,000 to the City of Rome will support an urban canopy restoration project to reduce stormwater runoff by planting trees systematically and strategically throughout the City.
The Oneida County grants are part of a larger Green Innovative Grant Program allocation totaling $43 million to 58 projects throughout the State. Last March, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) solicited projects to identify green infrastructure opportunities in need of funds. Officials from EFC, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and State Department of Health reviewed nearly 300 applications seeking nearly $468 million. The selected projects were then submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval. Each grant recipient must comply with the ARRA, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act and the New York State Revolving Fund requirements.
New York received $432 million through the ARRA for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $86 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The ARRA requires states to direct 20 percent of their stimulus funding to water quality projects that use innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency, incorporate stormwater infrastructure, and use innovative treatment technologies.
For more information of New York State’s ARRA funds, please visit www.recovery.ny.gov. For more information the New York State Revolving Fund programs, please visit www.nysefc.org/recovery.
