FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2019

City of Kingston is Awarded Over $4.7 Million from New York State Consolidated Funding Awards

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston has been awarded a total of $4,761,200 at the New York State Consolidated Funding awards ceremony held in Albany today. The grants will help to fund major city-wide projects including sewer separation work, improvements to Dietz Stadium, completing the Kingston Point Rail Trail, and offsetting local taxpayer funds for the bus system integration.

“Thank you to Governor Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Hochul, and the Regional Economic Development Council for your ongoing support and confidence in Kingston. This year’s combined funding of over $4.7 million is the largest that the City of Kingston has secured through the CFA process and will dovetail with other grant funding the City has secured for some of these large-scale projects” said Mayor Noble. “Each of the projects will have a direct impact on the growth, stability and well-being of our community members and for our City as a whole.”

“It is rewarding to see how working in a team with other City departments and the County leads to our increasing success when applying for state funds that support community improvement projects,” said Kristen Wilson, Director of the Office of Grants Management. “I am grateful for the addition of Grants Manager Ruth Ann Devitt-Frank to my office in 2019, and for the support of my colleagues and the community during the grant-writing season and through project implementation as well.”

The Regional Economic Development Council grants will fully or partially fund the following projects:

Kingston/Ulster County Transit System Integration ($400,000)

Funding Source: NYS Department of State Local Government Efficiency Program

Project description: The City of Kingston and Ulster County Area Transit have fully integrated with the local Citibus merging into the County transit system. As a result of this integration agreement, the City is scheduled to pay the County $225,000 per year for five years.  This grant will partially fund costs of this integration effort to reduce the costs to city taxpayers.

Hasbrouck CSO Sewer Separation Phase 2 Project ($1,611,200)

Funding Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program

Project description: The City has begun the Hasbrouck CSO separation project, which is estimated to remove 54 million gallons of stormwater annually from the Hasbrouck CSO sewer system and will reduce overflows to the Rondout Creek, improve Rondout Creek water quality, and reduce water treatment costs.

The City won an Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) grant on December 17 for an additional $717,450 toward this project.

Dietz Stadium Green Infrastructure Site Improvements ($2,500,000)

Funding Sources: NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Innovation Grant Program

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Program

Project description: This funding will enable the City to rehabilitate and re-pave the parking lot around Dietz Stadium using green practices, which can include bioretention features such as rain gardens, bioswales, or recharge gardens, permeable pavement, and stormwater street trees.  The proposed site plan concept also included efficient bus and traffic circulation plans, electric car charging stations, bicycle parking, and bike fix-it stations to encourage sustainable transportation to and from the athletic complex. This grant will complement the City’s capital improvements at Dietz Stadium under the previously awarded Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 2 ($250,000)

Funding Sources: NYS OPRHP Recreational Trails Program

Project description: The construction of Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 2 includes paving a 10-12 foot wide ADA-accessible path for pedestrians and bicyclists that will traverse over an old bridge, pass behind the Trolley Museum and end at a small trailhead on East Strand St. The project entails regrading for ADA access, installation of retaining walls and adjustment of tracks to accommodate the trail and Trolley Museum trains in the same vicinity, and erection of fences. The design includes an exhibit of 9/11 artifacts. 

For more information and to see other 2019 CFA award winners, visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-more-761-million-economic-and-community-development-resources-awarded