Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that the Mohawk Valley will receive over $9 million in funding from the recently passed omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 for critical local projects.
“From a new Utica Harbor Pedestrian Bridge to bridging the digital divide to expanding childcare and water service in Herkimer County, these projects will address some of the most critical infrastructure and community needs across the Mohawk Valley,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding means jobs, safe drinking water, childcare, bridging the digital divide, and so much more. I am proud to have secured this significant investment of over $9 million and I will always fight to ensure the Mohawk Valley gets the federal support it needs.”
“I am proud to have helped secure millions for the Mohawk Valley to upgrade infrastructure, expand broadband and ensure our communities have safe and clean water,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help lay the foundation for the Mohawk Valley’s future and I will continue fighting to bring federal dollars back home to New York.”
The senators said that these projects include:
- $2,000,000 for the Utica Harbor Pedestrian Bridge: This funding will be used to plan, design, engineer and construct a pedestrian bridge to link Utica’s Harbor Point to the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium and the Nexus Center. This project enhances connections for local residents as well as tourists between two of the City of Utica’s fastest developing areas of attractions. This will result in increased revenue for hotels and restaurants throughout the City and the surrounding region.
- $500,000 for the Eastern Mohawk Valley Regional Transmission Main Project: This funding will be used to assist with the construction of and implementation of the Eastern Mohawk Valley Regional Water Transmission Main to provide 22,000 residents across communities in Herkimer County along the Erie Canal with a sustainable source of high-quality drinking water.
- $500,000 for the Herkimer County Broadband Expansion: This funding will be used to expand high-speed broadband access to communities located in the norther part of Herkimer County. In Herkimer County, it is estimated that over 3,900 houses and businesses,6.4% of the population, lack access to modern internet services. Access to reliable, fast internet service is crucial to success in today’s modern economy.
- $315,000 for Herkimer County Day Care Project: This funding will be used towards a day care center that will serve infants, toddlers, pre-school age children and after school youth regardless of income. This funding will help address the critical shortage of childcare spaces and allow parents to return to the workforce.
- $3,000,000 for the Vernon Center Water District: This funding will be used to provide 6 miles of new water main and service laterals, a new elevated water tank and booster pump station. This investment in essential water infrastructure will ensure residents will be supplied clean, safe drinking water.
- $3,000,000 for the Village of Frankfort Water System Improvements: This funding will be used to provide water main replacements, looping improvements, upgrades to improve operation of the Village’s water system and allow the Village to connect to the regional water source. These improvements will complement the Eastern Mohawk Valley Regional Transmission Main Project which will serve 22,000 people in the Villages of Frankfort, Ilion and Herkimer as well as in the Towns of Schuyler and Herkimer.
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