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Saratoga Springs to apply for EPA Thriving Communities grants for site cleanup, housing and transportation projects
Summary
City staff told the Saratoga Springs City Council they intend to apply for multiple tiers of the EPA Thriving Communities program, proposing projects that range from asbestos remediation to connector design and affordable housing support.
Saratoga Springs officials said the city will apply to the EPA Thriving Communities grant program, pursuing multiple award tiers to fund site cleanup, housing and connector projects.
City staff described the program as “match-free and reimbursement-free,” meaning awarded funds would be provided up front and expended against milestones. Mayor Stafford and staff said the structure makes the grants unusually attractive because typical federal programs often require local matching funds.
Why it matters: Staff said the grant could finance projects the city could not otherwise afford without local matches. The council discussed using the $75,000 tier for the Living Water site asbestos and vermiculite remediation, the $150,000 tier for a disability housing project aligned with the city’s pro-housing certification, the $250,000 tier to finish design work for the Wilton connector so it is shovel-ready, and the $350,000 tier to support a larger Crescent Avenue/Treehouse affordable housing and state-park-linked project that had previously received federal support.
City staff noted deadlines and administration: staff said the grant is being administered through Fordham University (described in the meeting as a Jesuit university partner to the EPA program) and that a March 31 deadline suggested the funder is assigning awards to selected projects. Staff also said the university administration offers a learning opportunity for students to assist with grant administration.
Discussion points: Council members asked about the reliability of the funds and whether the program’s schedule meant the city must move quickly. Staff responded that while there is no guarantee of award, the program’s structure and administration reduce risk relative to many other grants. Staff also reported they had canvassed department heads and community stakeholders to identify candidate projects for each award tier.
Next steps: The mayor said he would move forward with an application request to pursue the program; the council discussed taking a vote to authorize submission. The meeting record does not show a final grant award or a completed council vote on the application at this meeting.
Ending: Staff asked the council’s support to pursue the applications and noted the city could apply to multiple tiers simultaneously; council members expressed support for applying while acknowledging that award decisions would come later.
