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GOVERNOR PATERSON AND EPA ADMINISTRATOR LISA JACKSON ANNOUNCE $432 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDS FOR CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE Largest Grant Provided in EPA History Will Support Thousands of Jobs Governor Announces First Round of Grants – Investment of $170 Million Governor David A. Paterson joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today at the Albany Institute of History and Art to announce $432 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the largest grant provided to a state in EPA history. This funding, which was awarded to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and will be administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, will finance clean water infrastructure projects in communities across the State. Additionally, Governor Paterson announced the first round of projects eligible to receive this funding. Upon Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approval, ten projects will be awarded a total of $170 million for water treatment plant and sewer upgrades, rehabilitations and improvements. Projects are located in the counties of Cayuga, Erie, Onondaga, Orange, Orleans, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. Additional grants will be announced in the coming months. “New York State is committed to innovative approaches to building environmentally sustainable and energy efficient wastewater treatment technologies. This funding will help protect our environment and will support thousands of jobs across the State at a time when we need it most,” said Governor Paterson. “I thank President Obama, New York’s Congressional delegation, EPA Administrator Jackson and Commissioner Grannis for all of their hard work and continued support as we work together toward a path of full economic recovery and environmental protection.” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said: “EPA is committed to being part of the solution in this economic downturn. By keeping the waterways clean and healthy, we’re bringing new jobs and new opportunities to local communities. Protecting human health and the environment is a great way to put people to work and stimulate our economy.” DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: “Today is a truly extraordinary day for New York, for our environment, for our economy and for our communities across the State. DEC and Environmental Facilities Corporation are eager to use this funding to support local economies by creating jobs, and at the same time keep our invaluable rivers, streams, and lakes clean.” This funding will create thousands of jobs across New York in many different sectors, including trade and construction jobs such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and heavy equipment operators, engineers; manufacturing jobs to create steel, pumps, pipes, concrete, and asphalt; and other jobs such as legal jobs, high-tech jobs, and operators of the plants. ARRA requires that 20 percent of clean water funds be reserved for Green Innovation projects, such as energy efficiency, solar and water conservation elements of projects. New York’s Green Reserve is $86 million and will be distributed via a new $35 million Green Innovations Grant Program. The remaining $51 million will fund innovative initiatives at traditional sewage projects that qualify for ARRA monies. Applications for green innovation projects are available on the Environmental Facility Corporation’s Economic Recovery webpage at: www.nysefc.org/recovery.
Environmental Facilities Corporation Acting President Matthew Millea said: “As demonstrated today by Governor Paterson’s announcement of $170 million in clean water projects, Environmental Facilities Corporation is committed to obligating these funds quickly and transparently to innovative and energy efficient clean water projects, which will create jobs and protect water across the State.” Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment Dereth Glance said: “New Yorkers know clean water is a necessity, not a luxury. We applaud the leadership provided by President Obama, the New York Congressional Delegation, Governor Paterson, and Commissioner Grannis for investing in sustainable clean water infrastructure to improve water quality that keeps our beaches open, allows our fisheries to thrive, and promotes New York’s shoreline as a top tourist destination.” President of the Construction Industry Council Ross Pepe said: “There is little question that public works and infrastructure renewal are vital to creating jobs today and laying a foundation for a sustainable economic recovery. A healthy construction industry invigorates the economy in many ways. For every $1 billion spent on construction as many as 35,000 jobs are created. Clean water, safe drinking water, efficient transportation systems, modern ports and airports, renewable energy and other public facilities all contribute to a healthy environment and business climate. Governor Paterson and the Obama Administration’s campaign to reinvest in America and New York State will pay off in growth for generations.” For more information on the State’s efforts to administer its share of ARRA funding, please visit Governor Paterson’s Economic Recovery website at: www.recovery.ny.gov. ### Additional quotes provided in support include: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said: “These critical federal dollars will help our communities finance clean water infrastructure projects and help create good-paying jobs across New York State. Creating jobs in New York is my number one priority. This funding will strengthen our economic recovery efforts and ensure our communities have the tools and resources they need to promote growth across New York State. I will work hard in the Senate to ensure New York gets its fair share of federal dollars.” Congressman Tim Bishop said: “I am pleased that the Obama administration has placed a high priority on rebuilding our infrastructure, including clean water and wastewater treatment projects. In Congress, I have been working to increase funding for sewage and wastewater management because these are major concerns for residents through Suffolk County. Therefore this injection of recovery funding is valuable and timely.” Congressman Brian Higgins said: “Western New York has an extremely old water system that will benefit significantly from this Recovery Act investment. This is a good first step toward upgrading our underground water delivery network and protecting our local natural water resources.” Congressman Maurice Hinchey said: “It is very satisfying to see that the work we did in Washington to pass a significant economic recovery bill is literally paying off all across New York. By investing in critical water infrastructure projects, such as the City of Middletown’s water and sewer initiatives, we are creating jobs, making areas more attractive to businesses and residents, improving people’s quality of life, and sparing local taxpayers the full cost of these important projects. This type of investment in America’s infrastructure is exactly the remedy we need to help lift us out of this severe economic recession.” Congressman Michael McMahon said: “Clean water, and the infrastructure needed to support it, is vital to maintaining the quality of life in our local communities. These funds improve water quality, while simultaneously creating badly needed jobs. I applaud my fellow New York Congressional Delegation members, as well as Governor Paterson and Commissioner Grannis, in their effort to secure these funds for New York State.” Congressman Ed Towns said: “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to fund worthwhile projects that will stimulate the economy and create jobs. These ten projects selected by Governor Paterson fulfill the Congressional intent by jumpstarting the New York economy in the short-term, but also represent the long-term investments that this country needs to be competitive.” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “At a time when communities across New York are experiencing unprecedented fiscal challenges, federal stimulus projects such as this provide a great boost to infrastructure and job creation. These grants will help municipalities meet their water treatment needs and provide much-needed jobs. This is precisely what stimulus funds are intended to do. I thank Governor Paterson and the entire New York Congressional delegation for their leadership in obtaining these grants and the EPA for making this historic investment in New York’s infrastructure.” Senator David J. Valesky said: “These much-needed infrastructure projects will improve the quality of life in our towns and villages, while at the same time providing economic stimulus in the form of new jobs. I applaud the efforts of our New York Congressional Delegation, along with Governor Paterson, in ensuring stimulus funding reaches our Upstate communities. Senator Antoine Thompson said: “This federal stimulus funding improves our environment and creates good jobs.” Assemblyman Marc S. Alessi said: “I have been working to ensure that funds from the stimulus package go to the infrastructure needed to protect our environment and our beloved Long Island Sound, and I am excited to see that Greenport is receiving this money for improvements that will create jobs, stimulate our economy, and help to reduce pollutants entering our waterways.” Assemblyman Joan K. Christensen said: “Communities in Onondaga County will benefit from essential sewer system upgrades. The federal stimulus act approved by Congress earlier this year was intended to fund projects that improve infrastructure while putting people back to work. I am pleased that the EPA has selected Onondaga County for upgrades.” Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther: I am thrilled about the stimulus funding for this project in Middletown, which has been in the works for numbers of years. The stimulus funding was advanced to support projects of this nature. This Middletown infrastructure upgrade will create jobs and reduce the potential tax burden on citizens.” Assemblyman Sam Hoyt: “The clean water grants provided from the stimulus funds are a much-needed shot in the arm for municipalities across New York. I am pleased that these funds will encourage the use of environmentally friendly technologies while helping communities ensure they have clean water. That these grants help provide jobs during this recession will also help New York greatly.” Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee: “These grants are an important investment in Rockland County communities which help offset tax increases levied to pay for sewer system upgrades. This is an example of the stimulus plan assisting local governments during this economic recession. This grant will provide infrastructure improvements and create much-needed jobs.” Assemblyman George S. Latimer said: “This is terrific news for Westchester taxpayers and Westchester environmentalists. This is exactly the proper project that stimulus funds were meant to advance.” Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli said: “This is a quality of life issue. Syracuse has a real issue with sewer overflow and this funding will go a long way towards protecting the public and solving the problem.” Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney: “The clean water grants provided from the stimulus funds are a much-needed shot in the arm for municipalities across New York. I am pleased that these funds will encourage the use of environmentally friendly technologies while helping communities ensure they have clean water. That these grants help provide jobs during this recession will also help New York greatly.” Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski said: “This grant will help communities in my district make significant infrastructure improvements while at the same time taking the property tax burden on homeowners.” ### |