Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved more than $32 million in grants and interest-free loans to support vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York State. This funding will provide much-needed assistance for one drinking water project and six wastewater projects in Upstate New York. This funding includes nearly $5 million in grants that were awarded last summer in the second round of funding through the 2015 Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

"Investments in our water infrastructure are critical to helping ensure the continued vitality and future prosperity of communities across New York," Governor Cuomo said. "This funding will provide cities, towns and villages across the state with modernized, sustainable water systems – protecting our precious resources and securing a healthier future for all New Yorkers."

Recognizing that municipalities simply cannot keep pace with their ever-expanding water infrastructure needs, this year’s enacted budget included the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017. This dramatic infusion of capital funds builds upon the progress made through WIIA by providing an additional $1 billion in grants to New York State communities. The Act also creates a new program which will provide grants specifically for intermunicipal water projects.

Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty said, "EFC’s work with communities across the State helps to ensure that they can meet their water infrastructure needs. Under the Governor’s leadership, the infusion of new funding through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 will allow us to expand the use of grants, loans and technical assistance to advance sustainable growth, and promote innovative environmental technologies and practices for these communities."

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Chair Basil Seggos said, "Ensuring New Yorkers have access to clean water is an ongoing challenge that requires bold and innovative solutions. In addition to the landmark $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure in this year’s budget, Governor Cuomo has launched several historic water quality initiatives, including New York’s Water Quality Rapid Response Team, to protect drinking water from emerging and regulated contaminants. These statewide investments provide a comprehensive plan of action that will help protect vital drinking water for residents while bolstering the state’s economy and reenergizing entire communities."

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Clean drinking water is crucial to public health and investing in our water infrastructure will protect this vital resource for all New Yorkers. Governor Cuomo’s $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 will fund vital upgrades to water systems across the state while developing a national model for protecting drinking water."

The grants, along with the interest-free and low-interest loans provided by EFC allow municipalities to finance these projects at a significantly lower rate than financing on their own.

Additionally, 94 percent of the loans approved today are interest free.

The approved projects at the April 14 meeting include:

Capital Region
· Town of New Baltimore (Greene Country) – A $2.6 million zero interest loan for the planning, design and construction of wastewater system upgrades.

Finger Lakes
· Town of Wolcott (Wayne County) - $2.5 million, including a $1.5 million zero-interest loan, for the planning, design and construction of the Blind Sodus Bay wastewater collection system.

Mid-Hudson
· Village of Kiryas Joel (Orange County) - A $1.5 million low-interest loan to replace 5,154 existing residential and commercial water meters with new water meters and upgrade the existing meter reading (AMR) system.
· City of Middletown (Orange County) - $4 million, including a $975,345 NYS Water Grant and a $3 million zero-interest loan, to finance costs associated with the planning, design and construction of replacement sanitary sewer mains, manholes and service laterals in the “Black Dirt” area of Middletown.
· City of Poughkeepsie (Dutchess Country) - $11.2 million, including a $2.8 million NYS Water Grant, and a $8.4 million zero-interest loan, for the design and construction of the Wastewater Improvement Project.
· Town of Rockland (Sullivan Country) – $5.5 million, including a $4.7 million zero-interest loan, for the planning, design and construction of improvements to the Livingston Manor Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

Mohawk Valley
· City of Utica (Oneida Country) – $5.2 million, including a $1.2 million NYS Water Grant, and a $3.6 million zero-interest loan, for the design and construction of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Project Phase A9.2.

New York State leads the nation with the largest annual investment in water-quality infrastructure of any state. Since 2011, EFC has provided more than $9 billion in subsidized loans, grants and loan re-financings to local governments.