Referred to: The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairman Hewitt and Legislators Donaldson, Greene, Litts, Nolan, Stewart, and Walls), The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairwoman Sperry and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Hewitt, Litts, Stewart and Walls), The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chair Nolan and Legislators Donaldson, Kovacs, Litts, and McCollough), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, John Gavaris, and Deputy Chair Kevin A. Roberts offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Departments of the Environment, Economic Development, Planning, and Public Works; and

WHEREAS, the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) were created to advance efforts to improve New York’s business climate and expand economic growth; and

WHEREAS, the CFA is a single application for state economic development resources from numerous New York State (NYS) agencies, including: Department of Environmental Conservation; Energy Research and Development Authority; and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and

WHEREAS, the fourteenth round of the CFA is anticipated to be announced in May of 2024 with an application deadline of July 2024; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, available via the CFA, is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program open to local governments to implement projects that directly improve water quality or aquatic habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Non-Agriculture Nonpoint Source Planning (NPG) and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping Grant, available via the CFA, is a grant program to help local governments and Soil and Water Conservation Districts pay for the initial planning of non-agriculture nonpoint source water quality improvement projects; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant program, available via the CFA, provides funding for municipalities to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at the local level; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

(NYSERDA) Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development Funding, available via the CFA, has incentives available to support regionally significant, carbon neutral economic development projects that will achieve carbon neutral or net zero energy performance; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund Grants Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF), available via the CFA, provides funds to the acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Recreational Trails Program (RTP), available via the CFA, provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses; and

WHEREAS, the County desires to submit various grant applications via the 2024 CFA; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Directors of the Ulster County Departments of the Environment, Economic Development, Planning, and Public Works are hereby authorized to submit online applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for the following New York State grant programs: Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP), Non-Agriculture Nonpoint Source Planning (NPG) and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping Grant, and Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant programs; New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development Funding; Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund Grants Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP); and other grant opportunities available via the CFA, for up to each respective grant category’s maximum award amounts; and, be it further

RESOLVED, no application shall be submitted on behalf of Ulster County for any project that would require additional or matching County funding without prior approval of the Ulster County Legislature,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:      

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on __________.

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on __________.

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on __________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on __________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE