Hochul Awards More Than $38 Million for County Infrastructure Projects Across New York

49 projects receive funding statewide, including nearly $3.9 million for the Mohawk Valley and $500,000 for improvements at Utica’s Murnane Field and Donovan Stadium.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $38 million in County Infrastructure Grant Program funding for 49 projects across New York, including vital New York infrastructure grants for housing, water and sewer systems, recreation, tourism and other local infrastructure needs.

The second round of the program distributes $38,050,183 statewide, according to the state’s list of awards. Nearly every region of New York received funding, with the Finger Lakes and Mid-Hudson regions each receiving $6 million. The Mohawk Valley received nearly $3.9 million across six projects.

For Central New York and Mohawk Valley readers, the awards include $500,000 for Oneida County, $500,000 for Herkimer County, $1 million for Montgomery County and $1 million for Madison County.

The grants are administered by Empire State Development and are intended to help counties move forward with projects that can support housing, economic development, tourism and community improvements. Enhanced awards of up to $1 million are available for projects that support creation of at least 10 housing units. The state estimates this round will help support construction of more than 3,200 new homes.

Who received money and how much?

Here is the complete county-by-county breakdown.

Capital Region — $5.43 million

• Albany County — $267,857: Town of Bethlehem
• Columbia County — $500,000: Town of Ghent
• Rensselaer County — $1 million: City of Troy
• Saratoga County — $1 million: Town of Waterford
• Schenectady County — $1 million: City of Schenectady
• Warren County — $1 million: Town of Lake Luzerne
• Washington County — $660,000: Village of Fort Edward

Projects include water infrastructure, housing-related road improvements, sewer upgrades and improvements along the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail.

Central New York — $5 million

Every Central New York award was for $1 million:

• Cayuga County — $1 million: Village of Weedsport
• Cortland County — $1 million: Village of Homer
• Madison County — $1 million: Village of Cazenovia
• Onondaga County — $1 million: Town of Clay
• Oswego County — $1 million: Town of Volney

The projects are heavily focused on infrastructure needed for new housing. Madison County’s award will help redevelop the former Cazenovia College campus, while Onondaga County funding will support infrastructure at the former Hinerwadel’s Grove property in Clay.

Finger Lakes — $6 million

• Genesee County — $500,000: City of Batavia
• Livingston County — $1 million: Village of Dansville
• Monroe County — $1 million: City of Rochester
• Ontario County — $1 million: Town of Farmington
• Seneca County — $500,000: Town of Fayette
• Wayne County — $1 million: Town of Lyons
• Yates County — $1 million: Town of Starkey

The Finger Lakes tied for the largest regional award total. Projects range from shoreline improvements in Batavia to housing and sewer infrastructure throughout the region.

Long Island — $500,000

• Suffolk County — $500,000: Fort Salonga, Town of Smithtown

The funding will help rehabilitate the historic Main House and Garage at Owl Hill County Park for future public use and tourism.

Mid-Hudson — $6 million

• Dutchess County — $500,000: City of Poughkeepsie
• Orange County — $500,000: Sugar Loaf, Town of Chester
• Putnam County — $1 million: Town of Carmel
• Rockland County — $1 million: Village of Haverstraw
• Sullivan County — $1 million: Town of Liberty
• Ulster County — $1 million: Pine Hill and New Paltz
• Westchester County — $1 million: Village of Croton-on-Hudson

Projects include water infrastructure, performing arts improvements and infrastructure supporting hundreds of new housing units.

Mohawk Valley receives nearly $3.9 million

The Mohawk Valley received $3,888,125 for six projects, making this round particularly significant for several communities in the Utica region.

• Fulton County — $388,125: City of Gloversville
• Herkimer County — $500,000: Town of Herkimer
• Montgomery County — $1 million: Village of Canajoharie
• Oneida County — $500,000: City of Utica
• Otsego County — $500,000: Village of Cooperstown
• Schoharie County — $1 million: Village of Cobleskill

Utica receives $500,000 for Murnane Field and Donovan Stadium

Oneida County’s $500,000 award will support improvements at Murnane Field and Donovan Stadium in Utica.

Plans call for upgrades to spectator seating, public restrooms, paving and press box infrastructure. The state said the work is intended to improve accessibility and the overall experience for people attending games and events at the facility.

Herkimer County receives $500,000

The Town of Herkimer will receive $500,000 for sewer infrastructure.

The project includes new sewer pipe, a force main, a new pump station at Gros Boulevard and Pine Grove Road and rehabilitation of an existing pump station near Lowe’s on Route 5.

State officials say the improvements are intended to address failing septic systems while expanding capacity for housing, businesses and community facilities.

Montgomery and Schoharie counties each receive $1 million

Montgomery County’s $1 million award will support infrastructure work at the former Beech-Nut manufacturing site in Canajoharie. The work is expected to help prepare the property for development that includes 65 affordable housing units, retail space and public open space.

Schoharie County will receive $1 million for infrastructure supporting 278 workforce housing rental units in Cobleskill.

North Country — $3.75 million

• Clinton County — $1 million: City of Plattsburgh
• Essex County — $246,701: Town of Ticonderoga
• Franklin County — $500,000: Town of Malone
• Jefferson County — $1 million: Village of Clayton
• Lewis County — $500,000: Village of Port Leyden
• St. Lawrence County — $500,000: City of Ogdensburg

Projects include housing infrastructure, public safety radio modernization, roadway reconstruction and improvements at Ogdensburg’s Morrisette Park.

Southern Tier — $3.77 million

• Chemung County — $1 million: Town of Big Flats
• Delaware County — $272,500: Village of Delhi
• Steuben County — $1 million: City of Hornell
• Tioga County — $500,000: Town of Owego
• Tompkins County — $1 million: Town of Dryden

Several awards directly support new housing, including a 302-unit development in Big Flats and utility improvements at the 132-unit Hanshaw Village manufactured home community in Dryden.

Western New York — $3.72 million

• Allegany County — $215,000: Village of Belmont
• Cattaraugus County — $500,000: Town of South Valley
• Chautauqua County — $1 million: Hamlet of Chautauqua
• Erie County — $1 million: City of Buffalo
• Niagara County — $1 million: City of North Tonawanda

Projects include sewer infrastructure around Chautauqua Lake, utility improvements in downtown Buffalo and preparation of a waterfront brownfield in North Tonawanda for housing and commercial development.

How New York’s regions compare

The figures show that funding is spread broadly across Upstate New York, with the largest regional totals going to the Finger Lakes and Mid-Hudson regions.

Why this matters

Infrastructure grants may not attract the same attention as announcements for new factories or major employers, but roads, water systems, sewer capacity and public facilities often determine whether those larger projects can happen.

Many of this round’s awards are tied directly to housing development. Others address aging systems that local governments might struggle to replace using property taxes alone.

“Investing in infrastructure means investing in New York’s future,” Hochul said, adding that the projects are intended to help communities create housing, attract businesses and expand economic opportunities.

The grants are also significant because local governments continue to face rising construction and infrastructure costs. State assistance can reduce the portion that must be covered through local taxes or borrowing, although the ultimate costs and financing structure will vary from project to project.

What readers should know

This is Round Two of the County Infrastructure Grant Program.

New York established the program in the FY 2025 state budget. More than $74 million has now been awarded to nearly 100 projects through the first two rounds.

Another $50 million is included in the FY 2027 budget, and the state says a third application round is expected to open in the coming weeks.
For Mohawk Valley residents, this round puts nearly $3.9 million into six counties, including visible local investments in Utica, Herkimer, Canajoharie, Cooperstown, Cobleskill and Gloversville.

Source: Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul / Empire State Development