Long Beach Gets $250k State Grant

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the office of state Senator Todd Kaminsky, has been awarded $250,000 in grant funding through the New York State Community Capital Assistance Program.

"Long Beach is the Crown Jewel of Long Island, and so I was pleased to secure this funding for the city, which will improve accessibility, storm preparedness and the security of residents and visitors alike," Kaminksy said.

The money will be used for many different purposes: the purchase of additional beach wheelchairs, security cameras on the Boardwalk, ATVs on the beach, defibrillators in police cars and more.

"The grants provided by the Community Capital Assistance Program will go a long way toward fulfilling these long-standing public safety needs," said City Councilwoman Chumi Diamond.

All of the funds will go to public access and safety projects. Foremost among them is outfitting the city's new Office of Emergency Management. The city, through its NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program, intends to establish a full-time, protected and secure Office of Emergency Management in City Hall and outfit it with emergency equipment.

The city also plans on adding more bike racks. Long Beach exhibits bicycle commuters more than twice the national average. However, bicycle parking, in particular, is over capacity at most locations within the city, causing rider delays, increase costs of repair and is an inhibitor to economic development in the downtown. More bike racks will help alleviate those problems.

Photo: City of Long Beach