Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $500 Million in Grants to Water Infrastructure Projects Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $500 million in grants for critical drinking water and sewer projects statewide, delivering on her landmark $3.75 billion commitment in the 2027 Enacted State Budget. By providing half a billion in grants to 106 projects totaling $1.4 billion in costs, Governor Hochul is helping communities upgrade the drinking water and sewer systems that New Yorkers depend on every day while minimizing costs for families and businesses. This investment will help local governments modernize aging infrastructure, tackle legacy threats such as lead service lines and emerging contaminants, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth and economic development while creating good-paying jobs.

"Investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the future of every New Yorker," Governor Hochul said. "My administration will continue ensuring communities have the financial support and tools they need to protect public health and safeguard our natural resources while keeping these critical investments affordable."

The grants are estimated to save communities $1 billion in debt service they would have faced if they had to finance the costs on their own, based on current market conditions. The projects are estimated to create 22,400 jobs in construction and related industries, including engineering, manufacturing, and local services.

The full list of Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant awards is available on theNew York State Environmental Facilities Corporation's website.

Awards by Region

• Capital Region: $40 million to 14 projects, including two grants totaling $6.5 million to the Village of Menands for lead service line replacement and drinking water treatment improvements.
• Central New York: $64 million to 10 projects, including $25 million to Oswego County for a regional wastewater infrastructure initiative.
• Finger Lakes: $52 million to 14 projects, including nearly $10 million to the Village of Avon's wastewater treatment project that will improve water quality in the Genesee River.
• Long Island: $57 million to 12 projects, including $7.8 million to Suffolk County for the Fairfield at St. James Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion that will ultimately connect more users to municipal sewer.
• Mid-Hudson: $66 million to 7 projects, including $10 million to the Town of Poughkeepsie for lead service line replacement.
• Mohawk Valley: $37 million to 6 projects, including $8.9 million to the Village of Camden for wastewater infrastructure improvements that will protect Fish Creek and Oneida Lake.
• New York City: $25 million for a tank project at the North River Water Pollution Control Plant that will protect water quality in the Hudson River. The plant treats up to 170 million gallons of wastewater every day, and the improvements are critical to preventing untreated sewage from bypassing the system.
• North Country: $65 million to 10 projects, including $14 million to Elizabethtown to establish a municipal sewer and wastewater treatment system.
• Southern Tier: $26 million to 7 projects, including $6.9 million to the Town of Chenango for improvements that will protect drinking water from emerging contaminants.
• Western New York: $67 million to 15 projects, including $4.6 million to the Town of Friendship for sewer improvements that will protect and improve water quality in the Genesee River basin.

The Governor's continued commitment to ensuring funding is awarded to the communities that need it most is reflected in these awards:

• $119 million in enhanced grants for drinking water projects that bring systems in compliance with the State's strict standards for emerging contaminants, and wastewater and sewer projects in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. These enhanced grants include the previously mentioned projects in Avon, Camden, Chenango, Elizabethtown, and Friendship.
• $64 million to projects that identify and replace lead service lines, building on more than $600 million in grant commitments since 2021 to help get the lead out.
• $120 million awarded to municipalities that worked with EFC'sCommunity Assistance Teams. Governor Hochul expanded this technical assistance program in 2023 to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities complete applications, access funding, and address their water infrastructure needs.

EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, "Governor Hochul's historic $500 million investment will have a lasting impact on New Yorkers' quality of life. With these grants, the State is protecting the environment and what comes out of the tap while protecting the pockets of New Yorkers. EFC's WIIA grants are proven vehicles for affordability and will help ensure these critical projects won't be held up because of costs."

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "Once again, Governor Hochul is delivering on her commitment to ensuring municipalities across New York can affordably provide safe drinking water to our communities. These grants will help remove lead service lines and combat harmful emerging contaminants from drinking water while protecting public health for years to come."

New York's Commitment to Water Quality

Under Governor Hochul, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The SFY27 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational$3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC's investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. EFC is currently accepting applications for $45 million in available funding forGreen Resiliency Grants. EFC's Community Assistance Teams are available for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications.