New York counties can apply for a new $76 million round of state infrastructure grants aimed at supporting housing construction and local economic development, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday.
The third round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program raises the maximum awards for projects tied to new housing. Counties must submit a letter of intent before a final application, and applications are due Feb. 5, 2027, according to the governor's office.
Larger grants for projects tied to housing
Projects that directly support construction of at least 10 new homes can receive as much as $1.5 million. That is $500,000 more than the prior cap. Projects supporting fewer than 10 homes can receive up to $1 million, also a $500,000 increase.
The program is designed for small- and medium-sized county-led projects. State officials say improvements to roads, water and sewer systems can make housing sites usable and remove barriers to business investment. The state has not announced awards or county allocations for this round.
Empire State Development, which administers the program, requires a letter of intent before a county files its full application. Program guidelines and application materials are available through the state program page linked from the governor's announcement. The agency plans a webinar for counties in mid-November.
Hochul said higher limits are intended to let counties take on larger projects. State housing officials said the grant changes are meant to support infrastructure that makes additional housing possible, though an award does not itself mean that homes have been built.
Previous rounds and next steps
The state has awarded more than $74 million through the program's first two rounds to nearly 100 projects, according to the governor's office. The New York State Association of Counties said those projects laid groundwork for nearly 6,000 homes statewide. Those figures describe projects funded or enabled so far, not completed homes from the new round.
The original $50 million program was included in the fiscal 2025 state budget. The state added $50 million in each of the fiscal 2026 and 2027 budgets, creating more funding for subsequent rounds. The $76 million now available is the amount offered in this third application round, not a new grant to any particular county.
The awards are open to counties across New York, including those in the Finger Lakes. Local governments will need to identify eligible projects and meet the state's application requirements before any funding decisions are made.
The grant round sits alongside the state's broader housing plan, which the governor's office says aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes over five years. State officials say more than 87,000 homes have been created or preserved to date under that plan. Those housing-plan totals are separate from the nearly 6,000 homes associated with earlier county infrastructure grants.
Counties considering a proposal can review the state program guidance and submit the required letter of intent ahead of the final filing. The state has not provided a date for award decisions.
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