MUNICIPALITIES OF NEW YORK STATE

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is pleased to announce the availability of $225 million in grant funding through the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and New York State Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program.

This funding is for municipalities with infrastructure projects that protect or improve public health and/or water quality. Grant eligible critical water infrastructure projects include those that combat emerging contaminants such as PFOA, PFOS and 1,4 dioxane with system upgrades and innovative pilot technologies, along with those that address combined and/or sanitary sewer overflow impacts from sustained rain events.

New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA)

Pursuant to WIIA, EFC provides grants to assist municipalities in funding infrastructure projects for the protection of public health and water quality. WIIA grants will be awarded to water quality infrastructure projects for the replacement or repair of infrastructure or for compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality. EFC will evaluate projects based on factors including protection of public health and water quality; median household income; governmental and community support; consideration for Environmental Justice Areas; and readiness of the project to proceed expeditiously.

New York State Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program (IMG)

Pursuant to the IMG, EFC will provide grants for infrastructure projects to be undertaken by two or more cooperating municipalities. IMG funding will be awarded for construction, replacement or repair of a drinking water or sewage treatment infrastructure project that serves multiple municipalities, such as shared water quality infrastructure that protects public health, the environment, or results in compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality.

EFC will evaluate projects based on factors including protection of public health and water quality; governmental and community support; consideration for Environmental Justice Areas; and the readiness of the project to proceed expeditiously. To be eligible to apply for a grant, cooperating municipalities must have a valid and binding Intermunicipal Agreement related to the financing of the project.

Background

EFC administers the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and co-administers the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) with the NYS Department of Health. The SRF Programs provide subsidized financial assistance to qualified municipalities to undertake eligible water infrastructure projects. Municipalities do not need to obtain financial assistance from the CWSRF or DWSRF program to receive a WIIA grant or IMG grant and do not need to be listed on the CWSRF or DWSRF Intended Use Plan to apply for a WIIA grant or IMG grant.

A WIIA grant or IMG grant is available only to a municipality, which is defined to include a county, city, town, village, district corporation, county or town improvement district, school district, Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, any public benefit corporation or public authority established pursuant to the laws of New York or any agency of the State that is empowered to construct and operate a water quality infrastructure project.

Application Due Date: Applications must be submitted using the online Application Form located on EFC’s website at: www.efc.ny.gov/WIIA or www.efc.ny.gov/IMG by 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2022. It is expected that submission of additional documents with the application will be required.

Webinar: EFC will host webinars to present the WIIA and IMG programs on July 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. and August 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. These events will provide an overview of WIIA and IMG, as well as guidance on how to apply for grant funds. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. You may register for either webinar on EFC’s website at: www.efc.ny.gov/WIIA and www.efc.ny.gov/IMG

CONTACTS:

If you have questions on either program, please e-mail: [email protected] or contact: Máire Cunningham, at the above address, or call (518) 402-6924