ALBANY—The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors recently approved more than $428 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Board’s approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water and improvements that will modernize aging systems.

EFC’s Board approved grants and financings to local governments from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds—a mix of federal and state dollars dedicated to financing community water infrastructure projects. The State Revolving Funds provide financing at below-market rates, empowering communities to undertake critical sewer and wastewater projects at a much lower cost than traditional financing. Funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for water and sewer infrastructure is administered by EFC through the State Revolving Funds.

The board additionally approved grants already announced pursuant to the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement program. Leveraging federal funding with the state’s investments allows local communities to invest in system improvements that safeguard public health, protect the environment, bolster communities’ resiliency, and promote economic development.

Environmental Facilities Corporation President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “The $428 million announced today is a significant investment in New York’s communities and environment. The State Revolving Funds and state water grants are proven programs that help communities meet their present water infrastructure needs and plan for long-term success.”

Funding was approved for projects in the Mid-Hudson region:

Village of Goshen – a $5.3-million grant and financing package for the replacement of existing filters to enhance water treatment; construction of a new pump station; and connection of the water treatment plant backwash waste discharge to the sanitary sewer system. A portion of the funding is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Town of New Windsor – a $14.8-million grant for the construction of an expansion to the Caesars Lane wastewater treatment plant.

Town of Poughkeepsie – $5.3-million grant and financing package for the planning, design and construction of sewer improvements within the Hudson Heritage Sewer District.

Rockland County – $6.6 million financing for the construction of sanitary sewage pump station upgrades; a $6.6-million financing for the construction of sludge thickener upgrades at the Sewer District No. 1 wastewater treatment plant; $7.1-million financing for the construction of influent screening improvements at the Sewer District No. 1 wastewater treatment plant; and $6.81-million financing for the construction of new mechanical bar screens at the Cherry Lane, Pinebrook and Saddle River pump stations.

The Board also approved long-term financing totaling more than $294 million. This action helps ensure continued, long-term affordability of existing projects across the state. Short-term financing provides capital for design and construction of projects. Once project construction is completed, the short-term financing is typically refinanced to long-term financing of up to 30 years, saving municipalities significant interest expenses they would have incurred if they had financed the projects on their own.

The Board approved long-term financing for projects in the following communities in the Mid-Hudson region: the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority, the City of Kingston, the City of Middletown, the Village of Millerton and the Village of Suffern.