New York State officials have announced that nearly $300 million in grants is being awarded for water infrastructure projects across the state.
The grants were awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). The corporation is distributing this latest funding through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant, Intermunicipal Grant, Green Innovation Grant, and Engineering Planning Grant programs.
The grants will support water infrastructure projects that safeguard drinking water from the risk of toxic chemicals, increase community resilience to flooding, regionalize water systems, and support local economies. The grants are projected to save local taxpayers an estimated $1 billion.
"Grants are crucial to helping communities undertake environmental infrastructure projects that are vital to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, the resiliency of shoreline communities, and economic development that supports industry, businesses and homeowners," says New York Governor Kathy Hochul. "We are proud to support municipalities with a historic level of funding for water infrastructure improvements, and we'll continue our efforts to modernize our infrastructure and provide safe, reliable water systems for generations to come."
The award marks the second announcement of Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant (WIIA) awards this calendar year, bringing EFC's total state water infrastructure grant awards to nearly $900 million in 2022.
The grants were distributed through the programs as follows:
- Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Grants (IMG): 73 projects awarded a total of $279.3 million
- Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP): 8 projects awarded a total of $15.8 million
- Engineering Planning Grants (EPG): 70 projects awarded a total of $3 million
"EFC's grants are a hallmark of New York State's robust, nation-leading investment in the environment, which will help municipalities affordably invest in water infrastructure improvement projects,” says Maureen A. Coleman, EFC president and CEO. “Not only do these grants help get shovels in the ground for 81 water quality projects across New York State, but the engineering planning grants will also help tee up 70 fiscally sound and well-designed projects. EFC is pleased to award more than half of the total grant funding to disadvantaged communities and further Governor Hochul's commitment to environmental justice."
WIIA/IMG Grants
The state Environmental Facilities Corporation has awarded $279.3 million in WIIA and IMG grants that will support nearly $1 billion in total project costs.
The state has a list of WIIA/IMG awardees by region and an interactive map to find the program’s awardees.
Grants totaling more than $158 million are awarded to 22 clean water projects and 14 drinking water projects located in environmental justice communities.
More than $115.5 million has been awarded to improve drinking water systems.
Emerging Contaminants Projects
An additional $31.9 million is awarded to projects that include enhanced treatment systems for addressing emerging contaminants. This additional pool of grant funding incentivizes drinking water projects that treat emerging contaminants above the State determined Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Six projects in Long Island have been awarded grants to construct treatment systems that treat emerging contaminants above the MCL. Two projects in the Mid-Hudson region also received the grants.
Wastewater Improvement Projects
Over $92.5 Million is awarded for wastewater improvement projects that will improve water quality and reduce potential risks to public health and the environment.
Green innovation, Engineering Planning
EFC is also awarded over $18.8 million to projects through the Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) and the Engineering Planning Grant Program (EPG). The funding is part of Round XII of the Governor's Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
All $15.8 million of GIGP funding this round was awarded to environmental justice communities for green stormwater infrastructure projects.
GIGP supports projects across the state that utilize green stormwater infrastructure design and green technologies. Competitive grants are awarded to projects that mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of green practices, including green stormwater infrastructure as well as energy efficiency and water efficiency.
EPG will fund $3 million in engineering costs to help jumpstart planning for 70 clean water infrastructure projects. More than half of the EPGs have been awarded to environmental justice communities.
The planning grants are being awarded help communities prepare to apply for federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, much of which will flow through the State Revolving Fund programs administered by EFC. Planning grants help fund the development of an engineering report, which is required in the EFC financing application process.
