Putnam Seeks Grants for Water, Sewer, Wastewater Projects Plus Brewster Revitalization

The Putnam County Economic Development Corporation hosted an investor breakfast Aug. 3 to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary. Held at the Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac, the event drew about 120 business professionals and elected officials.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell presented the keynote address, in which five key infrastructure initiatives designed to improve economic development across the county were disclosed.

“This is the Year of Business Development in Putnam County,” said Odell, according to a press release. “In order to grow our economic base and create a sustainable business environment in our county, we must put the right infrastructure in place and that starts with municipal water and sewage. To that end, last week, our planning commission submitted five CFA grant applications – four of which specifically address water or sewage improvements in the Towns of Southeast, Putnam Valley, Kent and Carmel.”

“We are particularly excited about the proposed interstate sewer and water line extension from Danbury to Route 6 in Southeast. This is a unique partnership with the Town of Danbury that helps us add sewer service to an under developed area on Route 6, while helping Danbury sell its extra capacity – it’s a win-win,” added Odell.

The CFA grant applications request funding for the following:

1. Interstate Sewer and Water Line Extension to US Route 6 Corridor from Danbury: Proposed project extends centralized sewer and water lines providing and handling the return thereof of approx. 300,000 gpd, to the US Rte. 6 commercial corridor from the western boundary of Brewster through the Town of Southeast westward to the Connecticut state line.

Benefits: increased property values, local business expansion, availability of new employment, generation of tax revenues.

2. Centralized Public Sewer Service to US Route 6, Mahopac area: Proposed sewer service would extend from the Villa Barone Hilltop Manor catering hall south to the Town/County line (Putnam/Westchester).

Benefits: Local business expansion, job creation from construction activity and new commercial businesses, new sales and property tax revenues in region.

3. Public Water Extension from the Town of Cortlandt/Westchester County line to the hamlet of Oregon Corners in the Town of Putnam Valley: Area will be provided approx. 150,000 gpd from the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works, Town of Cortlandt Water District to the Oregon Corners central business district along Oscawana Lake Road and Peekskill Hollow Rd. extending up to Putnam Valley High School into Foothill Street.

Benefits: increased property values, availability of new employment opportunities, generation of tax revenues.

4. Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on Route 311, Town of Kent: WWTP will collect sewage waste from the Lake Carmel residential area, as well as the under-developed commercial corridors of Route 311 and Route 52 in Kent and Patterson.

Benefits: Improved living conditions, allows for business expansion, job creation from construction and new businesses that move to the area as a result of new public sewer system.

5. Brewster Revitalization Phase I: Transit-oriented development (TOD) proposed to replace the existing buildings between Main Street, Railroad Avenue and Marvin Avenue, and the Southeast Museum to the east. Construction entails a shared subsurface parking structure for 540 cars, with two mixed-use buildings above and built around a central open space plaza. The buildings will provide 290 apartments and 32,000 sq. ft. of retail and commercial space.

Benefits: Revitalizes a distressed community into a vibrant, thriving place to live, work and play; job creation and higher quality of life for village residents, improve tourism and improve regional economic opportunities.

The County anticipates a response from the State concerning funding approval for these initiatives before the end of the year.

About the CFA

As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to improve the state’s economic development model, a NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. For more information about the consolidated funding application process and eligibility, please contact Jill Varricchio, president of the Putnam Economic Development Corporation, at 845-808-1021.