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Five Chautauqua County projects are part of $8 million in grant awards for 25 projects that are designed to create efficiencies and lower costs for local governments, The New York Department of State announced.
The funding is administered by NYS Department of State through its competitive Local Government Efficiency Grant (LGEG) Program which incentivizes New York municipalities to engage in partnerships to help make New York communities more affordable by reducing municipal costs through consolidations, shared services, and internal efficiencies. The opportunity creates both short and long-term savings for counties, cities, towns, villages and other governmental entities.
"This funding announcement is one more step in creating a more affordable state for its residents because it encourages municipalities to join forces to find saving opportunities for the services they provide," said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. "Under Governor Hochul's leadership, this new round of $8 million will help 25 local governments be ready to face current and emerging challenges to accomplish what ultimately matters most: effective municipal services and tax savings for residents."
Awarded area projects include:
-- Village of Fredonia, $1.25 million for the Fredonia Water System Improvements and Regional Interconnection project. Partners include the Town of Pomfret, City of Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, and the North Chautauqua County Water District.
-- Bemus Point Central School District, $500,000 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Decommissioning and Sewer Connection project. Partners include the Chautauqua County South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District.
-- Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES: $31,250 for the Clymer Sherman Panama School District Merger Study. Partners include Clymer, Sherman, and Panama Central School districts.
-- Town of Ripley: $45,000 for the Shared Animal Shelter Plan with the towns of Mina and Clymer.
-- Town of Pomfret: $25,000 for the Shared Highway Department Feasibility Study with the town of Dunkirk and Village of Fredonia.
The Local Government Efficiency Grant Program provides both planning and implementation funding to local governments that apply to the competitively scored grant program. The LGEG program awards individual municipalities up to $20,000 for planning grants and up to $250,000 for implementation grants.
New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, "These grants support practical, forward-looking projects that help local governments work together, reduce costs, and deliver services more effectively for the people they serve. From emergency services and shared technology to infrastructure planning and environmental management, these investments demonstrate what local collaboration can accomplish. We thank Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for continuing to support these partnerships and investing in stronger, more efficient local governments across New York."
NYS Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “NYCOM is pleased to see continued investment in the Local Government Efficiency Grant Program, which gives municipalities the resources to work together on practical solutions that improve services and make better use of taxpayer dollars. These grants support innovative partnerships across our cities, villages, towns and counties, helping local governments address shared challenges while finding efficiencies that will benefit their communities for years to come.”
New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages said: "Helping governing bodies operate more efficiently is a win-win for both taxpayers and local government institutions. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Local Governments, I welcome this $8 million investment to help municipalities work together and to make taxpayer dollars go further. I thank Governor Hochul and the Department of State for lowering costs for local governments across New York State."