Committee authorizes county to apply for NY state infrastructure grant to support Port Jervis water-filtration upgrades; approves $150,000 supplemental appropr.

The Education & Economic Development Committee authorized the county executive to submit an application to the New York State County Infrastructure Grant Program (CIGP) for up to $1 million to fund water-filtration upgrades in the city of Port Jervis and to enter contracts with the state and the city if the award is made.

Nicole Anderson, director of community development, briefed the committee and said the county would act as a pass-through: the county would enter into an agreement with New York State and a subrecipient agreement with the city of Port Jervis to implement the work. The county presentation said the grant requires a 50% local match; the city of Port Jervis will provide the $1 million match, pay a $250 application fee and a 1% commitment fee directly to the state.

Committee members proposed and approved an amendment clarifying that, if the application is awarded, the county executive may accept and appropriate the funds without returning to the committee for a separate initial approval. The committee then voted to authorize submission of the application and the amended language.

Separately the committee approved a request to supplement county taxation up to $150,000 to cover staff costs related to administering the grant (described by staff as up to 15% of the $1,000,000 grant). Staff said the appropriation would be drawn only as needed and hours would be tracked to the project for drawdowns. Committee members recorded the vote as unanimous on both items.