54 Awards to Municipalities Across New York Will Finance Upgrades to Housing and Public Water Facilities for Primarily Low- and Moderate-Income Residents

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $33 million in Community Development Block Grant funding has been awarded to dozens of municipalities for local infrastructure improvement and housing rehabilitation projects. The grants are designed to help communities provide decent affordable housing and safe living environments primarily for low- and moderate-income residents.

"By supporting improvements to build affordable housing, enhance public water facilities and strengthen local infrastructure, this funding will lay the groundwork for stronger, more resilient neighborhoods across New York," Governor Hochul said. "These critical investments in our public infrastructure will help provide safe, stable housing and affordable amenities to New Yorkers while allowing businesses to grow and thrive, and I thank the New York Congressional Delegation for securing this vital funding for our state."

The Community Development Block Grant program is a federally funded program administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal that helps counties, cities, towns and villages with projects that improve communities and benefit residents across the state.

Community Development Block Grant Housing grants can be used for housing rehabilitation of owner-occupied or renter-occupied homes, down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, and private water/wastewater system assistance for low- and moderate-income homeowners. For 2022, Homes and Community Renewal awarded $10.4 million for 24 housing rehabilitation, manufactured housing, and well and septic projects. A total of 301 households are projected to benefit from the proposed improvements.

Community Development Block Grant Public Infrastructure and Community Planning grants can be used for improvements to public water, public sewer, stormwater sewer and flood drainage improvements. For 2022, Homes and Community Renewal awarded over $23 million for 21 public water, public sewer, and public facility projects, and another $445,000 towards nine community planning projects.

Award highlights include:

    The Town of Constantia in Oswego County struggles with an aging and inadequate onsite septic system located near Oneida Lake. The New York State Community Development Block Grant award of $1.25 million will help fund improvements to the Constantia-Bernhards Bay Sewer District, which will include a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.

    Livingston County will use $550,000 in New York State Community Development Block Grant funds for the replacement of up to four existing manufactured homes located on private, deeded lots in some of the most rural locations within the county. This project will ensure residents have decent, safe and sanitary living conditions.

    The Villages of Herkimer and Frankfort will each use $1.25 million in Community Development Block Grant funding assistance as part of a regional venture to improve drinking water quality in communities throughout Herkimer County. The funds will be used to address issues in each community's drinking water infrastructure, including the replacement of lead service lines and deteriorated water transmission main, the installation of new hydrants and gate valves, redevelopment of existing wells, and improvements to pump stations.

    The City of Oneonta in Otsego County will use more than $200,000 in New York State Community Development Block Grant funds to replace 30 water service laterals for low- to moderate-income households, including 22 single-family owner-occupied properties and eight one-to-four-unit income properties with 20 units on a scattered-site basis.

Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Through our $33 million in Community Development Block Grant awards, we can help transform communities across New York by funding projects prioritized by our partners at the local level. Importantly, these much-needed improvements will directly benefit low- and moderate-income New Yorkers and boost ongoing revitalization and resiliency efforts across the state."

Senator Chuck Schumer said, "I am proud to deliver this $33 million in federal funding to make long-overdue, economy-boosting investments in housing and infrastructure from the Capital Region to Western New York. When I negotiated the COVID relief legislation, I secured increased support for the CDBG program because it delivers real results to Upstate New York creating good-paying jobs, delivering essential services, and supporting our most vulnerable populations. This federal funding will help accelerate our economic recovery and lay the foundation for a brighter future for all New Yorkers."

Representative Adriano Espaillat said, "I commend Governor Hochul on this latest batch of community development block grants that I helped to secure to improve essential infrastructure across New York. All New Yorkers have a right to decent affordable housing and clean water, and the community development block grant program has proven to be a critical resource in improving the lives of working-class New Yorkers through building stronger, more resilient communities."

State Senator Brian Kavanagh said, "I have been proud to join Governor Kathy Hochul and my colleagues in the legislature in enacting a State budget to make huge investments in housing New Yorkers and providing critical infrastructure, including effective allocation of federal funds, and I applaud the Governor and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas for getting this critical assistance out to New Yorkers across the state. These grants will go a long way toward helping low and moderate-income residents maintain homeownership and make necessary repairs and safety upgrades to their homes. The infrastructure improvements will result in safer and more desirable living conditions. I congratulate the municipalities and public water facilities that are the recipients of these awards and thank them for their ongoing commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing opportunities."

Complete list of awards

Capital District ($95,500 awarded)

    The village of Fort Edward in Washington County will use $48,000 in New York State Community Development Block Grant funding to complete an Engineering Assessment of the Historic Fort Neighborhood.
    The city of Mechanicville in Saratoga County will use $47,500 in New York State Community Development Block Grant funds for the development of an engineering report documenting issues with the city's stormwater infrastructure.

Central New York ($4 million awarded)

    The city of Cortland in Cortland County will use $500,000 to replace water and sewer laterals for 30 single-family owner-occupied properties and seven income properties with 16 units on a scattered-site basis.
    The town of Orwell in Oswego County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the town's water district.
    The village of Weedsport in Cayuga County will use $1 million for improvements to the village's drinking water system.

Finger Lakes ($3.65 million awarded)

    The village of Albion in Orleans County will use $1.25 million for improvements to its water treatment plant.
    The village of Clyde in Wayne County will use $50,000 to prepare an engineering report to advance construction of a new well source to supplement the village's current water supply and ensure reliable water service.
    The village of Medina in Orleans County will use $50,000 to complete an assessment of its drinking water system.
    The town of Romulus in Seneca County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the Willard Water District.
    The village of Waterloo in Seneca County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for up to 14 lower income homeowners.

Mid-Hudson ($2.7 million awarded)

    The village of New Paltz in Ulster County will use more than $860,000 for improvements to the village's sanitary sewer system.
    The town of Ulster in Ulster County will use $995,000 for improvements to the Spring Lake Sanitary Sewer District.
    The town of Wawarsing in Ulster County will use $874,000 for improvements to the Kerhonkson Sewer District.

Mohawk Valley ($7.3 million awarded)

    The town of Edmeston in Otsego County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the hamlet of Edmeston's water district.
    The village of Fort Plain in Montgomery County will use $50,000 to develop an engineering report for improvements to its sewer system.
    The city of Gloversville in Fulton County will use $50,000 to complete an engineering study of the Gloversville Senior Center.
    The town of Marshall in Oneida County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to up to 13 owner-occupied properties on a scattered site basis.
    The village of Otego in Otsego County will use $1.25 million for improvements to its drinking water system.
    Otsego County will use $300,000 to assist Springbrook ARC with security upgrades at the ARC residential school campus in the town of Milford.
    The town of Verona in Oneida County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the Verona Water District Extension No. 3.

North Country ($4.6 million awarded)

    The town of Chesterfield in Essex County will use $250,000 to provide Housing Rehabilitation assistance to five low- to moderate-income homeowners within the town.
    Essex County will use $450,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to approximately six low- and moderate-income owner-occupied homes located on scattered sites across the county.
    The town of Henderson in Jefferson County will use $1.25 million for improvements to Sewer District No. 1.
    The town of Hermon in St. Lawrence County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the Town Water District No.1.
    The town of Jay in Essex County will use $298,000 for ADA access improvement at the Town Community Center.
    The town of Lewis in Essex County will use $383,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to approximately six low- to moderate-income homeowners
    The town of Moira in Franklin County will utilize $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to nine low- to moderate-income homeowners.
    The town of Schuyler Falls in Clinton County will use $250,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to five low- to moderate-income homeowners.

Southern Tier ($5.3 million awarded)

    Chenango County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation to 14 low- to moderate-income single-family households.
    The town of Danby in Tompkins County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for up 14 low- to moderate-income homeowners.
    The city of Hornell in Steuben County will use $50,000 to complete a water asset management plan, and $1,250,000 for improvements to the city's wastewater treatment plant.
    The town of Lisle in Broome County will use $275,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for up to eight low- to moderate-income homeowners, and $475,000 to replace five substandard manufactured homes occupied by low- to moderate-income owners.
    The town of Newfield in Tompkins County will use $298,000 to assist 19 residential properties primarily occupied by lower-income households to replace their septic tanks and lateral supply lines.
    Steuben County will use $198,000 to assist up to 13 low- to moderate-income households replace failing septic systems.
    The village of Watkins Glen in Schuyler County will use $50,000 to complete a wastewater planning study for its Clute Park Pump Station Replacement and force main reroute.
    The village of Waverly in Tioga County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the village water distribution system and $500,000 to provide assistance to 13 low- to moderate-income homeowners.

Western New York ($6.1 million awarded)

    The town of Andover in Allegany County will use $500,000 to assist up to 13 low- to moderate-income households with critical housing rehabilitation.
    The county of Cattaraugus will use $400,000 to provide well, septic, and lateral supply line replacement assistance to low-income homeowners throughout Cattaraugus County, and $600,000 for the replacement of up to four existing, single-wide manufactured homes with new Energy Star-rated single-wide manufactured homes.
    The village of Celoron in Chautauqua County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to low-income homeowners.
    The town of Ellington in Chautauqua County will use $700,000 for a manufactured housing replacement program.
    The town of Friendship in Allegany County will use $50,000 to complete a comprehensive water system preliminary engineering report.
    The town of Independence in Allegany County will use $400,000 to assist up to 11 low- to moderate-income households with critical housing needs.
    The village of Little Valley in Cattaraugus County will use $1.25 million for improvements to its drinking water system.
    The village of Silver Creek in Chautauqua County will use $500,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to low-income homeowners.
    The village of South Dayton Cattaraugus County will use $1.25 million for improvements to the village's sanitary sewer system.