Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger announced today that Ulster County has been awarded one million dollars through the New York State County Infrastructure Grant Program (NYS CIGP) for the Village of New Paltz Water and Sewer Upgrade Project. This significant funding, provided by Empire State Development, will support critical water and sewer improvements that directly support the creation of housing in the Village.

The state grant program created by Governor Hochul is funding $50 million in grants statewide, with enhanced awards for projects supporting housing creation. This program specifically targets smaller-scale infrastructure projects identified as county priorities that may otherwise lack stand-alone funding sources. The Ulster County Planning Department put out a call for projects in December 2024 to all Ulster County Town Supervisors and Village Mayors, and the Village of New Paltz project was chosen for the housing-supportive components of the project. The Village’s Water and Sewer Upgrade Project, with an estimated total cost of $2,345,500, meets this criterion and will receive the maximum award. The New Paltz Village Board has formally committed to providing the required 50% match.

“We are thrilled to have secured this significant infrastructure grant for the Village of New Paltz, which has been a real champion in addressing the housing crisis,” said County Executive Jen Metzger. “The constraints of the existing water and sewer systems have long presented a barrier to new housing, and we thank Governor Hochul and ESD for supporting this essential investment.”

“For years, New Paltz has been diligently pursuing various highly competitive water and sewer grants. Ensuring that our water and sewer services are affordable, safe, and reliable remains one of the most critical responsibilities we hold as local elected officials," said New Paltz Village Mayor Tim Rogers. "This commitment extends directly to our efforts in providing affordable housing, which goes hand in hand with municipal water and sewer infrastructure. Our colleagues in Albany and the Ulster County government have consistently been valuable partners in supporting these infrastructure investments, and they do their utmost to identify opportunities to support New Paltz. Today is indeed one of those days where their dedicated efforts have truly delivered for our community."

Key Project Components and Transformative Impact:

The Village of New Paltz Water/Sewer Upgrade Project consists of two primary locations and initiatives:

• North Chestnut Street Water Loop will connect two existing dead-end water mains on North Chestnut Street (NYS Route 32) and Huguenot Street with a new 8-inch water main, forming a water loop for this section of the Village’s water district. This connection is expected to improve water pressure and quality for existing properties and will significantly reduce the need to shut down the entire northern portion of the Village water system during most water main emergencies. Critically, this Water Loop Project is essential for the development of four major mixed-use development projects along the North Chestnut Street corridor, which are currently at various stages of planning approval or construction. These new projects will collectively add 253 new residential units, including approximately 37 affordable units, to the Village’s North Chestnut Street corridor, representing an estimated 10% increase in the Village's total housing units and directly supporting the County government’s housing affordability goals.

• The Wastewater Treatment Facility Entrance Channel Replacement will develop a new entrance channel for sewage to the Village of New Paltz Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) to reduce or eliminate stormwater overflows that occur during rainfall events at manholes on Huguenot Street and Water Street, which has been a concern of NYSDEC. Improvements will also include the installation of an automatic screening system for the entrance channel. This upgrade is critical for supporting the new housing projects in the North Chestnut Street Corridor and future development in the Village.

For several years, the Village of New Paltz has faced challenges with its aging water infrastructure, including "brown water" incidents. Unlike the Village's sewer system, which has received consistent state funding due to a consent order, the water pipes have seen limited grant success. This new grant will address these critical water and sewer infrastructure needs, improving system performance and reliability, protecting the environment, and supporting crucial housing development for current and future residents of New Paltz

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