Director's report: EPA Brownfields grant awarded, $400,000 Fast NY study for 'cementing' area, microenterprise round delayed

County staff reported three major updates in the director's report: the county has received a cooperative agreement for an EPA Brownfields Coalition Assessment, Fast New York awarded $400,000 to study environmental issues in the county's "cementing" area, and the next round of microenterprise funding has been delayed after two public hearings were re-run.

Staff said the cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partner organizations (including Columbia County and the Hunter Foundation) is the result of work dating back to November and that language in the agreement reflects changes in federal standards. Staff said they will meet with a technical assistance provider to begin procurement and implement the assessment project.

Separately, staff said Fast New York awarded $400,000 to conduct a general environmental impact statement covering about 1,700 of an identified 4,000 acres in the county's "cementing" area. The study will evaluate what can and cannot be built, identify barriers to development, and include a series of public outreach sessions and stakeholder interviews; staff said the board will be invited to participate in outreach.

On microenterprise grants, staff said required public hearings were re-run; because the governing body that decides grant awards (the Housing Trust Fund Corporation) met before the re-run hearings were provided, awards for the next round are likely to be delayed until the following month and staff expects the program to reopen in January.

No formal board action was taken on these items during the meeting; staff described next steps and upcoming procurement and outreach.