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), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

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

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive’s Office on behalf of the Department of Budget; 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 the Department of Environmental Conservation, Energy Research and Development Authority, and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and

WHEREAS, the fifteenth round of the CFA is was announced in May of 2025 with an application deadline of July 31, 2025; and

WHEREAS, New York State Empire State Development (ESD) Regional Council Capital Funds, available via the CFA, provides funds for capital-based economic development projects intended to create or retain jobs; prevent, reduce or eliminate unemployment and underemployment; increase business or economic activity in a community or Region; and/or expand, construct, restore or renovate New York State tourism destinations and attractions; Awards will begin at $100,000.00; and this grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 10% of the project cost (beginning at a County share of $11,111.11); and

WHEREAS, New York State Empire State Development (ESD) Strategic Planning & Feasibility Studies grant program, available via the CFA, provides working capital grants of up to $100,000.00 each to support 1) strategic development plans for a city, county, or municipality or a significant part thereof, and 2) feasibility studies for site(s) or facility(ies) assessment and planning; and this grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 50% of the project cost (up to $100,000.00); and

WHEREAS, the New York State Empire State Development (ESD) Market New York grant program, available via the CFA, provides funds for tourism marketing initiatives, the recruitment and/or execution of special events like festivals, expos, agritourism/craft beverage events and athletic tournaments, and the recruitment of business events like meetings, conferences, conventions and trade shows. Awards will begin at $50,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 50% of the project cost (beginning at a County share of $50,000.00); and

WHEREAS, the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), available via the CFA, provides funds for the development of viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding opportunities. Awards will be capped at $2,000,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 20% of the project cost (up to a County share of $500,000.00); 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. Awards will be capped at $10,000,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 25% of the award (up to a County share of $2,500,000.00); 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. Awards will be capped at $400,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 10% of the award (up to a County share of $40,000.00); 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. Awards will range from $50,000.00 to $2,000,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a local match of 50% of the project cost (County share will range from $50,000.00 to $2,000,000.00); and

WHEREAS, per the specific requirements of the above Climate Smart Communities Grant program, the County of Ulster certifies that in collaboration with the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA), both parties have identified a total of $2,000,000.00 of matching funds from in-kind donation, force account, another non-state/federal grant, private contributions and, if necessary, bonding to be requested; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

(NYSERDA) Building Cleaner Communities Competition, 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. Awards will be capped at $2,000,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 25% of the project cost (up to a County share of $666,666.67); 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. Awards will be capped at a maximum of $675,000. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 25% to 50% of the project cost (County share will range from $225,000.00 up to $675,000.00); 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. Awards will range from $5,000.00 to $300,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 20% of the project cost (County share will range from$1,250.00 to $75,000.00); and

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of State Smart Growth Community Planning Program is providing for funding for new or updated comprehensive plans for entire counties that integrates smart growth planning principles for the county pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 239-D. Awards will begin at $75,000.00. This grant, if awarded, requires a minimum local match of 10% of the project cost (County share beginning at a minimum of $8,333.33); and

WHEREAS, the County desires to submit various grant applications via the 2025 CFA; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Budget Director or designee is hereby authorized to submit online applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for the above grant programs for up to each respective grant category’s maximum award amounts; and, be it further

RESOLVED, per the specific requirements of the Climate Smart Communities grant program, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby authorizes the Director of Budget, or designee, an official or employee, to act on its behalf in submittal of an application through the Consolidated Funding Application for $2,000,000.00, to be used for the proposed food waste reduction project,

and moves 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: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$17,700,000.00 – MAXIMUM INCREASE TO 2025 - 2028 REVENUE DOLLARS

$24,326,111.00 – ANTICIPATED MINIMUM INCREASE TO 2025 - 2028 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

$6,626,111.00 – ANTICIPATED MINIMUM COUNTY SHARE