Grants Leverage $45 Million in Water Quality Investments, Providing $30 Million in Savings for Taxpayers
Investment Will Support the Creation of More Than 700 Jobs
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $12.4 million in grants to support 11 critical municipal water infrastructure projects in Central New York. This funding represents $29.5 million in taxpayer savings and will support the creation of more than 720 jobs. These grants are funded through the state’s highly successful Water Infrastructure Improvement Act program.
“Investing in our state’s water infrastructure is critical to regional growth and prosperity and maintaining safe, healthy communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “By improving our water infrastructure, we are protecting our natural resources, laying the groundwork for future prosperity and helping to create a stronger, healthier, New York for all.”
“It’s critical that we ensure our drinking water is free of contaminants and safe for all New Yorkers,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This investment in grants for infrastructure improvements in Western New York will address needs to enhance and protect water quality, and also help to create more than 1,000 jobs in the area. We want to make sure that communities have the resources they need to make upgrades to their water treatment systems and ensure the health and safety of residents.”
The Governor’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 dedicated $2.5 billion for water quality protection across New York. Today’s announcement is part of a statewide total of $270 million in grants being awarded to communities, including over $19 million to support projects that address cyanotoxins associated with harmful algal blooms, and previously announced grants totaling $15 million for projects addressing emerging contaminants such as PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4 dioxane.
To date, $750 million in Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and Intermunicipal Grant funding supports nearly $2.65 billion in total project costs for vital drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects statewide. Combined with zero- or low-interest financings through the State Environmental Facilities Corporation, New York taxpayers will save nearly $1.8 billion. Furthermore, these projects are expected to support more than 47,000 jobs in the construction, supplier and service sectors.
The Central New York municipalities receiving grants, including $2.1 million for a project addressing HABs, are:
| WIIA Grant | Awardee | County | Estimated Project Cost | Estimated Grant Award |
| Clean Water | Cicero, Town of | Onondaga | $290,000 | $72,500 |
| Drinking Water | Cortland, City of | Cortland | $1,259,463 | $755,678 |
| Drinking Water | Granby, Town of | Oswego | $4,300,000 | $2,580,000 |
| Clean Water | Homer, Village of | Cortland | $1,730,000 | $432,500 |
| Clean Water | Onondaga County | Onondaga | $15,500,982 | $114,690 |
| Drinking Water | Onondaga County Water Authority | Onondaga | $1,410,000 | $846,000 |
| Clean Water | Oswego County | Oswego | $2,139,442 | $534,861 |
| +Drinking Water | Owasco, Town of | Cayuga | $3,500,000 | $2,100,000 |
| Drinking Water | Sandy Creek, Town of | Oswego | $11,466,000 | $3,000,000 |
| Drinking Water | Sennett, Town of | Cayuga | $2,969,000 | $1,781,400 |
| Drinking Water | Syracuse, City of | Onondaga | $350,000 | $210,000 |
| TOTALS: | $44,914,887 | $12,427,629 | ||
| +HABs Related Project | ||||
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “At Governor Cuomo’s direction, New York continues to be an environmental leader in protecting our precious water resources. This funding will improve water quality, promote economic development, and provide much-needed water infrastructure improvements as we combat emerging water quality issues including harmful algal blooms and contaminants like PFOA, PFOS, and 1-4 dioxane.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard A. Zucker said, “At the direction of Governor Cuomo, New York State has committed unprecedented funding to implement the infrastructure upgrades and state-of-the-art filtration technology that safeguards clean and efficient drinking water for decades to come. Protecting our water resources is an essential part of maintaining the health and well-being of communities statewide.”
