The town of Carmel has been awarded $5 million in state funding to help pay for upgrades to its Water District No. 2 treatment plant, reducing the financial burden on that district's taxpayers.
The funding comes through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation's Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant program and is part of a statewide investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) announced the award and credited Carmel Councilman Robert Kearns for his efforts to secure the funding.
"This $5 million investment is a tremendous win for the town of Carmel and the hardworking taxpayers who depend on safe, reliable drinking water," Slater said.
The grant will help finance improvements to the treatment plant, addressing aging infrastructure and strengthening the long-term reliability of the town's drinking water system. The state funding will also offset costs that otherwise would have been borne by local water district customers.
Kearns said securing outside funding had been a priority since the project was first proposed. He said he worked with the town's grant team to explore available funding sources, including conducting an income survey to help establish the town's eligibility for state assistance.
"From the beginning, I pushed our grant team to explore every possible funding opportunity to help reduce the financial burden of the Carmel Water District No. 2 project," Kearns said. "That effort included conducting a comprehensive income survey to help position the town to qualify for this critical funding."
Kearns called the award a significant financial benefit for residents.
"At the end of the day, this is a $5 million win for the residents and taxpayers of Carmel," he said.
Slater said the investment will help the town address necessary infrastructure improvements while limiting their impact on local taxpayers.
"By securing state resources for these essential improvements, we can protect our drinking water while keeping affordability at the forefront," he said.
The Carmel grant was among nearly $500 million in state funding announced for 106 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York. The grants are intended to help municipalities modernize aging systems, improve water quality and reduce the costs of infrastructure projects for residents and businesses.
Article provided by Assemblyman Slater's office
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