New Federal Funding to Clarkstown For DPW Project to Combat Flooding
WEST NYACK, NY—The Town of Clarkstown announced it will receive more than $2.1 million in federal funding to fix conditions that cause widespread flooding and to improve other public facilities and services in its community. The new funding is part of $58 million in federal funds for public works projects and services coming to New York’s 17th congressional district, which includes sections of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester.
The announcement of new federal monies comes weeks after the House of Representatives passed two FY24 appropriations packages that were subsequently signed into law, explained Congressman Mike Lawler (17th CD). Among the projects to advance is more protection to clean drinking water in various localities, mitigating flooding in several neighborhoods and revitalization efforts in some downtown communities. The funding is also expected to provide new resources for local law enforcement, it was noted in a press statement.
Among the specific project work to be undertaken is flood mitigation in the Jeffrey Court neighborhood of West Nyack. The area has experienced frequent flooding, especially during major storms.
“With aging infrastructure and more frequent and severe storms impacting our community, infrastructure projects like this one are absolutely critical for ensuring our residents are safe and secure in their neighborhoods,” said Rep. Lawler.
“Jeffrey Court is amongst the worst in terms of flooding in our entire town, and it has been since I was a kid,” added Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann at the press conference. “These residents have had to put up with this for many, many years.”
“There’s that old phrase that says government works slowly but it does work. That’s a really important thing to recognize today, that this is a long-awaited project and a long-needed fix,” added State Sen. Bill Weber (38th SD).
“Increasingly frequent severe flooding throughout the Hudson Valley has been catastrophic for residents, businesses, and commuters,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a statement. “Major flooding traps cars and slows down first responders, putting New Yorkers in dangerous, even deadly, situations. It’s unacceptable, and today, I’m delivering nearly $2.5 million to make the NYS Thruway more resilient against severe weather and help end local flooding once and for all. I fought to secure this funding in the 2024 government funding bill, and I will keep working to deliver federal resources to this project until it is completed.”
Stephen Reich, co-vice president of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Rockland County, told CONSTRUCTION NEWS that he has been told there are between seven to nine projects in Rockland County to be funded from the appropriations package passed recently by Congress. However, at press time, no funding was earmarked for any particular project, with the exception of the Jeffrey Court project in Clarkstown, he noted.
Mr. Reich said he is set to meet with Rockland County Executive Ed Day to discuss possible county projects that could receive federal funding as well.