New clean water funding commitments include a series of changes to maximize benefits for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.

On January 15th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $325 million in grants are available for clean water infrastructure projects through the next round of the State's Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs. This action immediately delivers on Governor Hochul’s clean water funding commitments announced in her 2024 State of the State, which include a series of changes to maximize benefits for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. With these important changes and critical financial support for local governments across New York, Governor Hochul is laying the foundation for a healthier, more resilient future, ensuring every New Yorker has access to safe and clean water, creating jobs, and boosting the economy. 

“New York is committed to funding water infrastructure upgrades because every person has a right to clean water,” Governor Hochul said. “With this additional funding for communities across the state, we are providing critical resources to local economies, creating jobs, and safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.” 

This round of WIIA/IMG boasts improvements announced as part of Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State to maximize benefits for rural and disadvantaged communities, including: 

• Additional benefits for rural communities. Even with extensive financial support from the State, some municipalities are left passing a large financial burden to their ratepayers. To alleviate this burden on small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, Governor Hochul is directing EFC to increase water infrastructure grants for small rural communities from 25 percent to 50 percent of net eligible project costs. This change will support smaller communities, like those in the Adirondacks, which often struggle with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects. 
• Expanding community resources to ensure equitable access to funding opportunities. Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities are particularly impacted by deteriorating water infrastructure and emerging contaminants, and often do not possess the resources and capacity necessary to advance a project for infrastructure improvement. Governor Hochul is expanding EFC’s Community Assistance Teams program that launched in 2023 to provide essential support for updating New York’s critical water infrastructure. The teams are ready to engage with any community that needs help with its water infrastructure. Communities can request a meeting, register for upcoming webinars, and learn more at efc.ny.gov/cat. 
• Protecting drinking water. Continuing New York’s national leadership on addressing the threat of PFAS, Governor Hochul is increasing awards for emerging contaminant projects from 60% to 70% of net eligible project costs. This change will help ensure cost is not a barrier for communities working to make life-saving investments that eliminate risks to their drinking water supplies. 

The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) administers the WIIA and IMG programs in coordination with the Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC). Governor Hochul’s plans will expand the success of these programs by assisting municipalities that have often struggled with accessing clean water grants and delivering affordable projects.

Applications and full eligibility criteria will become available at efc.ny.gov on Monday, Feb. 5. 

EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re continuing to remove barriers that have traditionally held communities back from accessing significant investments in water infrastructure. The initiatives we’re implementing will help expand the WIIA/IMG grant programs’ legacy of modernizing aging systems and protecting drinking water. Together, in partnership with local governments, we are taking yet another giant step toward a cleaner, more resilient future that will ensure safe drinking water for all New Yorkers and protect our public health and invaluable natural resources.”

Today’s announcement builds on the success of New York State’s nation-leading investment in clean water infrastructure, the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, and the continued focus on equity and environmental justice. Governor Hochul announced $479 million in WIIA, IMG and septic replacement grant awards in December, including the first funding awarded under the Environmental Bond Act. More than two thirds of the funding was awarded to projects serving disadvantaged communities and potential environmental justice areas, underscoring the State’s commitment to awarding grant funding to communities that need it most.

EFC is working to implement additional elements of Governor Hochul’s plan to safeguard water quality and strengthen communities’ vital infrastructure systems to withstand severe weather in the face of climate change. These include initiating an engineering planning grant program for drinking water projects that treat emerging contaminants or replace lead service lines, as well as a supercharged green resiliency grant program to build green infrastructure across the state, including green roofs and permeable pavement. 

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Board Chair Basil Seggos said, “Governor Hochul continues to prioritize the protection of New York’s water quality and today’s announcement for the first tranche of water infrastructure funding this year demonstrates the State’s sustained commitment to investing in communities statewide. By increasing awards and enhancing technical assistance to municipalities, New York’s investments in water infrastructure are instrumental in ensuring access to clean drinking water and improving aging infrastructure in hard-pressed communities.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Clean drinking water should be accessible to all New Yorkers, no matter who they are or where they live, and this announcement once again demonstrates Governor Hochul’s commitment to safe drinking water for all New Yorkers. This funding will help ensure communities can finance critically important infrastructure projects that will safeguard their water and health for years to come.”

Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Clean water infrastructure is an essential element of Governor Hochul’s innovative and comprehensive efforts to create healthy, vibrant, equitable and sustainable communities throughout the State. The Governor’s announcement today of $325 million in funding availability for these critical infrastructure projects underscores her commitment to modernizing the State’s aging infrastructure systems and prioritizing the small, rural and disadvantaged communities that may have been neglected in the past.”     

New York's Commitment to Water Quality 
New York continues to increase its investments in water infrastructure. Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, New York has invested a total of $5 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, the Governor launched Community Assistance Teams this year to expand EFC's technical assistance program and help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding to address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with their water infrastructure needs is encouraged to contact EFC at http://www.efc.ny.gov/CAT. 

The voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent.