Edwards Praises Governor Paterson

MAYVILLE, NY -- An announcement made this week by Governor David Paterson has been well received by Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards.

On Wednesday, August 6, Governor Paterson announced more than $42 million was approved by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). The awards will be used to create and retain more than 400 jobs, revitalize communities across the State and renovate nearly 1,000 units of affordable housing.

The awards, funded through the New York State Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) and NY Main Street programs will assist every region of the State.

Nearly $34 million of funding comes from the Federal Community Development Block Grant program. More than $8 million in additional funding comes from NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation, which is funded from fees earned by the State's Housing Trust Fund for administering other federal programs.

“These grants will create jobs and revitalize urban business districts, and they will help rural communities make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades,” said Paterson. “These grants bring us closer to our goal of making New York the best possible place to live, work and raise a family.”

Edwards said that $510,000 in Community Development Block Grants has been awarded to a program to assist 20 low-and moderate-income families to purchase a home in standard condition, and have energy related housing improvements performed to reduce energy consumption and ensure continued affordability.

$201,600 has been awarded to correct or replace 23 septic systems ($5,000 per system), drill five new wells ($6,500 per well), and install seven chlorination systems ($3,120 per system).

This project will be administered by Chautauqua Opportunities Incorporated, and will be limited to single-family, owner-occupied units with homeowners who are below 80 percent of the HUD median income. This project will benefit 35 households or 105 persons.

The Chautauqua County Health Department issued permits for 366 septic systems in 2007. 227 of these were for corrections or replacements of failing systems.

Many failing systems are not corrected because the homeowners lack the financial resources to make the corrections voluntarily.

And, the Town of Westfield has been awarded $553,750 to create the Route 20 East Improvement District. A total of 3,200 linear feet of 10" water main and service connections are proposed along with fire hydrants.

Earlier this year, the Town of Westfield was notified by the Chautauqua County Department of Health that they needed to address "deficiencies" in the East Main Street area by October 31, 2009.

"The awarding of these funds will certainly help the Town of Westfield deal with the problems they have identified," Edwards said. "I am pleased to see that the NY Main Street program has seen it fit to show their support."

The Town of Westfield has identified an area within the town on Route 20E that is in need of new water transmission mains. This area is plagued with high bedrock and limited well production due to low water tables.

The target area is a hodgepodge of inadequate and deteriorated water lines ranging in size from 1" to 6", which can no longer provide adequate, safe, potable water to the users.

Other homes are on private wells with limited quantity and poor quality water.

The proposed project will benefit 181 persons.

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