The City of Kingston will receive $2.6 million in state funding for four infrastructure programs awarded under by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC). Nearly $2 million more in funds awarded will go to three nonprofits and one private developer for projects in Kingston.
“We did great this year,” said Mayor Steve Noble of the annual allotment of state largesse, announced Tuesday in Albany. “We’re going to get a lot done with that funding.”
The money for Kingston was part of an $87.1 million allocation of state funding for 122 projects in the Hudson Valley region. Under the state Consolidated Funding Application process, municipalities, nonprofits and private companies compete for millions in state aid by submitting applications for grants available through various state agencies to the Regional Economic Development Council. The council scores each application based on viability, conformity with the criteria of the grant sought and how well it aligns with the region’s economic development goals. The scores are then passed along to state economic development officials in Albany, who make the final funding decisions. In Kingston, where Noble has made obtaining grant funding priority, four of six applications were approved.
The largest award to the city is $1.2 million from the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation to pay for “green infrastructure” improvements to three municipal parking lots in Midtown Kingston. The project is similar to one two years ago that provided upgrades at two municipal lots on North Front Street. The improvements include porous pavement and other elements to improve drainage and prevent runoff into the city’s sewage system, electric car charging stations and bike racks.
Other awards are:
• $600,000 from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Program for the first phase of the Hasbrouck combined sewer overflow improvement project. The proposal calls for reconstruction of the Hasbrouck sewer to facilitate the separation of sewage from stormwater. The redesign is intended to prevent sewage overflows into the Rondout Creek during periods of heavy rain.
• $772,752 from the DEC’s Climate Smart Communities program will go towards the Flatbush and Foxhall Midtown Connections initiative. The multi-million project seeks to install a sidewalk on the north side of Flatbush Avenue between Colonial Drive and Foxhall Avenue. The proposal also calls for improvements to railroad crossings on Flatbush and Foxhall avenues to make them more pedestrian-friendly. City officials say the project is intended to better connect the neighborhood around Flatbush Avenue with the city’s commercial centers.
• Another $60,000 from the Climate Smart Communities program will help fund a pedestrian and bicycle master plan. The design initiative will provide an inventory of existing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists on key routes in and out of the city and develop a 10-year plan for improvements.
Big money for downtown
In addition to the money slated for city government projects, four non-government entities received CFA funding for projects in the city.
Some $1.17 million in Empire State Development funds will go to North Street Brick Works LLC — parent company of the Hutton Brickyards. The money will help fund phase two of an ongoing plan to transform the long-abandoned former industrial site into a tourist destination and music venue. Plans for the site include the creation of a 30-unit boutique hotel, a stage, kitchen and 100 “glamping” sites on the shores of the Hudson River.
The state Department of Housing and Community Renewal’s Main Street program will provide $339,334 for RUPCO’s proposed Metro Stockade Works project. The plan seeks to transform a vacant former furniture factory at 2 Prospect St. into a film and TV production facility and “makers space” for small, independent artisans.
A grant of $430,000 from the state Historic Preservation Office will go towards an improvement project for the Hudson River Maritime Museum. The project includes improvements to the site’s walkways and façade, energy-efficient infrastructure and a connection to a proposed rail trail.
The New York State Council for the Arts Workforce Improvement Program will provide $42,000 to fund a full-time administrative assistant for the Center for Creative Education. The Kingston based-program provides arts education aimed at low income youth in the city.
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