New York is accepting applications for $225 million in grants to build drinking-water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure needed for housing development, including $50 million reserved for rural municipalities.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Clean Water for Housing program, which provides $175 million for projects statewide in addition to the rural allocation. The Environmental Facilities Corporation will award funding on a first-come, first-served basis until it is exhausted.
The corporation's program page lists a maximum award of $30 million and coverage of up to 75% of eligible costs. Municipalities may apply for multiple projects but can receive no more than two awards.
Who can apply
Eligible municipal applicants must be certified through the state's Pro-Housing Communities Program before receiving an award. Municipalities that have submitted complete certification applications may apply while that certification is pending.
Counties must document that their projects are necessary for housing development, improvements or rehabilitation, or that they will take place within a certified Pro-Housing Community. Private for-profit developers and nonprofit housing developers are ineligible applicants.
More than 460 communities statewide have been certified through the Pro-Housing program, according to the governor's office.
Eligible projects must address water, sewer or stormwater capacity constraints that impede housing. Work may include installing, extending, reconstructing or upgrading public facilities, along with related planning, design, engineering, permitting and construction costs.
Application requirements
Applications must include a project description and budget, an engineering report, environmental review documents and an explanation of the infrastructure constraint affecting housing.
The program aims to fund infrastructure projects that begin construction within one year of an award. The related housing development, improvements or rehabilitation are expected to begin within two years.
Applications and full eligibility rules are available through the Environmental Facilities Corporation. Its Community Assistance Teams also offer consultations to municipalities preparing applications.
The housing program is separate from $500 million in water-infrastructure grants announced earlier in the week and $45 million available through Green Resiliency Grants, the governor's office said.
File photo of water infrastructure in Canandaigua.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
