Development Grants for Putnam Projects

PHOTO: Breakneck Ridge/Putnam County

Designing a trail from Breakneck Ridge to Little Stony Point is one of the projects for which Putnam County or its municipalities have received money through the New York State Regional Economic Development Council.

• The state is supplying $50,000 for Putnam to lead a feasibility study with the nine municipalities within its borders on economic development and tourism.
• The Town of Patterson was awarded $22,500 to undertake a consolidation study of its two fire departments.
• The Town of Philipstown, in a partnership with Scenic Hudson, was awarded $400,000 to design a trail between Little Stony Point and Breakneck Ridge. It is part of a multiphase plan for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.

“The study is about taking a holistic approach toward the planning of the communities in Putnam County,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell in a prepared statement. “We have learned through the years that issues such as infrastructure, sewer, water and broadband extend past the borders of individual villages and towns. By collectively working together we can combine our resources, identify appropriate areas for potential economic growth and tourism as well as find solutions for longstanding obstacles.”

The study is intended to be the first-step in a multiphase plan. Once the study determines ways to promote tourism and improving the hamlets and commercial districts, a strategic approach can be used to make the best use of available funding processes.

“Putnam County, along with the six towns and the three villages within its borders, has learned that when dealing with New York State or the federal government the results are better achieved when we work together,” said Putnam County Legislator Barbara Scuccimarra. “The findings from the feasibility study will help us to determine which projects we can move forward collectively and which ones a municipality can choose to pursue on its own.”

The Putnam County Planning Department will be working in conjunction with the towns and villages to gather the necessary information.

“I am pleased with the outcome of this year’s REDC initiative,” said Odell. “The way the funding was allocated shows the applicants the importance of planning. Studies will be modestly funded and projects that have been done their due diligence will be supported by the state. Putnam has the potential access to more funding through the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council once we have identified the projects we want to move forward on.”

Among other projects with significance for Putnam:

The state awarded the Excelsior Job Credits program $9.6 million for future projects in the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and $38.2 million was allocated for local governments issuers to sell tax-exempt bonds for economic development, infrastructure and community revitalization projects. In addition, the region was awarded $1.7 million to use toward adopting energy efficiencies.

This was the fifth round of REDC funding. Several projects from Putnam have been granted funding in the past. Past recipients include Green Chimneys of Brewster, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Cold Spring and the Village of Brewster’s revitalization plan Envision Brewster.

The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council consists of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. It was awarded at total of $90.4 million through the REDC initiative.