Mohawk Valley Outreach Event Scheduled to Connect Communities with Necessary Resources and Funding for Water Infrastructure Improvements

Community Assistance Teams Available for On-Site and Virtual Consultations to Support Projects from Planning to Completion

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a proactive outreach initiative to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities address their water infrastructure improvements. The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation has assembled Community Assistance Teams to connect communities with experts who can help them undertake their critical water infrastructure projects. These Teams will provide on-site or virtual consultations to help communities across the state jump start planning, submit funding applications, and see their projects through to completion.

“Too many critical water systems have been neglected to a state of disrepair because communities don’t have the staffing, resources, or expertise to undertake these vital projects, but that stops today,” Governor Hochul said. “With the $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in this year’s executive budget, my administration will continue to remove barriers preventing communities from getting the financial assistance they need to be able to access clean water for generations to come.”

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), a public benefit corporation that provides low-cost capital and grants for water infrastructure improvement, is working closely with the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health to deploy Community Assistance Teams to conduct targeted outreach to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. This includes partnering with the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Councils and local organizations to host information events, identifying communities that have regulated facilities and have not used EFC for funding in several years, and soliciting requests for assistance directly from municipalities. Teams will provide one-on-one assistance to communities planning to upgrade their existing water infrastructure and to those communities working to create new water and sewer districts.

SAVE THE DATE: OUTREACH EVENT

• Mohawk Valley: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1-3 p.m., Herkimer College, Robert McLaughlin College Center, 100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY 13350. Register for the Mohawk Valley event via email with name, community and contact information to info@mvedd.org or register via Zoom.

SCHEDULE A MEETING
Community Assistance Teams are available by request to meet with municipal officials in person or virtually. Municipalities can connect with EFC at https://efc.ny.gov/CAT to schedule a consultation with a Community Assistance Team.

New York’s Commitment to Water Quality

New York continues to increase its investments in clean water infrastructure. Most recently, in her 2024 Executive Budget proposal, Governor Hochul committed to invest an additional $500 million in clean water funding, bringing New York’s total clean water infrastructure investment to $5 billion since 2017.

In addition, with voter approval of the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, there are additional, historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality; strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe storms and flooding; reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions; restore habitats; preserve outdoor spaces and local farms; and ensure equity by investing at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of resources in disadvantaged communities.