New York to invest $425M in next water infrastructure funding round

New York officials announced that $425 million will be made available through the next round of the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs, with applications going live on May 3.

The funding programs will be supported by the first spending under the state’s Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. This infusion of public funds will continue to help make water infrastructure investments more affordable for local governments.

"Thanks to the voter-approved Environmental Bond Act, this enhanced round of grant funding will help transform communities across New York State and benefit generations of New Yorkers," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "One of the main components of the Bond Act is providing significant funding for water infrastructure, and this funding will help communities build stronger and smarter to ensure safe drinking water and wastewater facilities can withstand the impacts of climate change."

New Yorkers approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act in November 2022. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) administers the Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Grant (IMG). WIIA and IMG were established in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and have been funded by the Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA).

An inter-agency working group comprised of multiple state agencies is currently identifying needs for environmental funding across the state and developing program logistics, including additional eligibility guidelines for how projects will be selected and delivered, through a transparent and collaborative process. EFC on March 15 released draft WIIA/IMG Bond Act eligibility guidelines for public comment as part of these efforts.

The infusion of Environmental Bond Act funding will help expand the WIIA/IMG grant programs' legacy of modernizing aging systems. This round will continue to prioritize grant awards for drinking water projects that address emerging contaminants as well as critical wastewater projects. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of the combined WIIA/IMG and Environmental Bond Act funding.

Applications and full eligibility criteria will become available at efc.ny.gov on May 3.