New funds available for storm aid

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January 24, 2012

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Tue Jan 24, 2012, 04:29 PM EST

ALBANY — Applications are being accepted for $30 million in grant funds for communities and businesses in New York recovering from the devastating storms Irene and Lee.

Empire State Development and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced the $21 million Business Flood Recovery Grant Program and $9 million Flood Mitigation Grant Program Tuesday.

"This grant program provides the funding necessary to help our businesses, farms and owners of multiple dwellings get the help they need, as well as to restore and secure our waterways to ensure homes and businesses will be better protected in the future," Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams said in a press release.

BUSINESS RECOVERY

Empire State Development will administer the Business Flood Recovery Grant Program, which will provide grants of up to $20,000 for eligible small businesses, farms, multiple dwellings and nonprofits that sustained flood-related damage in the two storms.

Funding is geared to help offset the costs of storm-related repairs and restoration of structures not covered by other federal, state or local recovery programs.

Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest need.

Applicants can access the application form, instructions and guidelines at www.esd.ny.gov/BusinessPrograms/FloodRecovery.html or call 292-5340 or email floodrecovery@esd.ny.gov.

The deadline for application is March 16.

FLOOD MITIGATION

The Flood Mitigation Grant Program will be made available to counties through DEC and Empire State Development.

This funding can be used as a non-federal match to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

"With these grants and working in partnership with DEC staff, localities will be able to take action to repair streams and prevent future harm to property, infrastructure and the environment," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said.

"This money will help these hard-hit regions clean up its waterways and protect public and private infrastructure from future flood events."

Grants will range from $300,000 to $500,000 per county. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest need and to those projects that can start work expeditiously and leverage other federal, state and local funding resources.

The funds can be used for the planning, design and implementation of eligible projects but can't be used for work that is already complete.

Eligible projects include stream debris removal, gravel removal in or directly around bridges and culverts, stream-bank stabilization and restoration and culvert replacement.

The funding is not eligible to be used as non-federal match for projects reimbursable by FEMA.

Applications must be submitted by April 11. Each should be submitted in priority order.

Applications and guidelines are available at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/79243.html. Applications can be completed online but an original, signed application must be printed and mailed, along with any supporting documentation and attachments to Flood Mitigation Grant Program,

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY, 12233- 3507.

The applicant should also email one electronic copy of the signed application, including attachments and photos in Adobe PDF format, to wqipuser@gw.dec.state.ny.us.