SOMERS, N.Y. - Somers has received a state grant that will take it one step closer to achieving its walkability goals.
The $100,000 in CREST (Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology) funding was announced by Sen. Pete Harckham at a press conference held on Monday, Aug. 4, in front of Town Hall.
It was part of $2.1 million being distributed to municipalities in the Democratic lawmaker's 40th Senate District for the purposes of improving parks, playgrounds, municipal buildings and parking areas, ADA compliance, sidewalks, and promenades.
Somers intends to use its share towards sidewalks along Route 202 that will connect businesses, schools, Bailey Park, the historic district, and The Elephant Hotel, where the town’s offices, court, meeting room, and historical society’s archives are located.
“It’s something we’ve planned for a while and the $100,000 will be a great addition to the resources we have to do it,” said Supervisor Robert Scorrano, adding that he “couldn’t be happier” about the town’s receiving the financial boost.
“It’s going to be safer streets for all, stronger for our local businesses, healthier living, and a town center where people can move freely and confidently without having to worry about traffic,” he said.
Joining Harckham and Scorrano Monday were more than a dozen local leaders, including Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves, Lewisboro Supervisor Tony Gonçalves, Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman, and Mount Kisco Mayor J. Michael Cindrich, who also spoke about their plans for the grant.
Making sure to point out that each municipality was getting the same $100,000, Harckham said: “We hear a lot about things happening at the federal level, but where government most impacts the lives of our residents is at the local level.”
Local officials are facing “a number of competing challenges and priorities, which is why our partnerships with them are so vital,” he added.
There are many state grants available, but often the ones that come through agencies and the executive chamber are competitive, Harckham said.
“Usually it’s the folks that have the biggest grant writing departments that end up getting the grants and many other folks are left out of the queue,” he explained.
That’s why he said he felt it was important to be “able to fund ongoing and planned public spaces initiatives” in his district.
“These grants will make a real difference for these municipalities while also helping to ease the property tax burdens as well,” he said.
Harckham said that, so far, he’s been able to secure $30 million in capital grants for the towns, cities and villages he represents through CREST, the Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP), and State Aid to Municipalities (SAM) grants.
That includes $15.1 million just for local governments and about $10 million for first responders such as local police and fire departments, EMTs, ambulance corps, and public safety professionals.
The rest went to nonprofit organizations, health care centers, hospitals, libraries, and arts groups, Harckham said.
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