Several communities in the Mid Hudson region, including Kingston and Poughkeepsie, are set to receive a portion of a $665 million fund approved by the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors. The fund is aimed at aiding water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State.
Kingston will receive over four million dollars, which will be used for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. Poughkeepsie, on the other hand, will receive funds for the planning, design, and construction to relocate a pump station.
The financial assistance is part of a broader initiative by Governor Kathy Hochul to improve water infrastructure across the state. The Governor stated, “No one in New York should ever fear that they don’t have access to clean water. With this funding, we are safeguarding the health and well-being of New Yorkers, providing critical resources to local economies, creating jobs and protecting our natural resources.” according to the official New York State website.
The funding includes low-cost financing and grants to help municipalities start vital environmental infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water.
The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors also approved long-term, interest-free financing totaling more than $24 million for projects undertaken by the City of Kingston, Town of Rockland, and Villages of Copenhagen, Hammondsport, Ilion, and South Glen Falls. This financing is projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $38 million over the life of the financings.