10/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/29/2024 14:19
October 28, 2024
New Report Highlights Success of Administration's Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force
19 City Agencies Have Won Total of More than 60 Individual Grants
Administration Urges Congress to Reauthorize Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act Programs; Create Reliable Stream of Funding for Resiliency Projects
NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new report detailing the unprecedented success of the city's Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force in winning grant funding from the Biden-Harris administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Under Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi's leadership, the task force has secured more than $2.3 billion in grants -$1.3 billion of which were through competitive applications - to support upgrades to New York City's infrastructure and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
"Thanks to our Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force and the Biden-Harris administration's game-changing investment in our nation's infrastructure, New York City is bringing home more federal dollars than ever before," said Mayor Adams. "This money is helping us build a safer, more affordable, more sustainable city for hard-working New Yorkers, and we're going to keep going after every available dollar there is."
"In a city as complex as New York, the scale of infrastructure needs - to keep up with a changing climate and growing population - is vast. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration's legacy-defining Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and our federal infrastructure task force's persistence, we are securing an unprecedented amount of federal infrastructure support. We are deeply grateful," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "It's time to reauthorize the programs to keep the good work going."
"The U.S. Department of Transportation has been a great partner in championing projects to support safe and sustainable transportation options and reduce New Yorkers' costly dependency on cars to get around," said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Through federal grant awards, the Biden-Harris administration has supported New York City's critical infrastructure upgrades, safe street redesigns, and climate action, reconnecting communities long divided by highways, and much more. We thank the Biden-Harris administration, the congressional delegation, and Mayor Adams for their support and partnership."
"The success of the city's Federal Infrastructure Task Force is a testament to the persistence, creativity, and drive of people from across the administration who are committed to delivering for everyday New Yorkers. While we celebrate this critical funding, we will also continue to work to ensure that New York City and New York state receive our fair shares of state and federal allocations," said New York City Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. "Newly emerging and urgent needs, such as protecting more than 8 million New Yorkers from increasingly severe coastal and stormwater flooding and replacing private lead water pipes across the five boroughs, will require significant amounts of new funding and continued partnership with our federal and state colleagues."
"Bolstering our infrastructure is essential to making our city greener, safer, more resilient, and more livable," said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. "Thanks to this substantial federal investment and the efforts of the Adams administration, the city will fill one of the last major gaps in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway to create a continuous cycling route around the island and also transform an abandoned rail line into a vibrant Queens greenspace. Among other projects, the funding will also create new green jobs, expand the city's tree canopy, and increase equitable access to the many benefits that urban forests provide. We're grateful to our partners in federal and city government for recognizing that secure infrastructure is a necessity for keeping New York City strong for generations to come."
"Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration's bold vision and leadership, an enormous amount of federal funding has been unlocked for New York City to advance some of our biggest initiatives," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball. "From generational projects like the transformations of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the Hunts Point Produce Market, to bolstering our blue highways and greenways, this administration is taking full advantage of this unprecedented access funding to build a more equitable and vibrant city."
"As these grants reflect, when we drive climate and environmental justice priorities, we're rewarded," said Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. "But while this level of funding is unparalleled, we must continue to prioritize pursuing and securing funding for critical climate infrastructure and environmental justice programs. That will allow us to meet our goals of creating less pollution, advancing better health, and enabling electrification and flooding projects that protect New Yorkers from the intensifying impacts of climate change." Through this task force, the city and its partners have won a wide range of grants, including but not limited to:
The report also highlights key policy changes needed to ensure that New York City can continue to build generational infrastructure projects using federal money. New York City represents 44 percent of New York state's population and 59 percent of the state's disadvantaged communities - but receives a disproportionally small percentage of available funding as a result of archaic state rules disqualifying New York City from various funding streams and limiting allocation amounts. Modifying those rules would allow New York City to be considered for additional funding commensurate with its population and status as a major economic engine for the state and country. Additionally, the report recommends reauthorizing key Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act programs and creating new, noncompetitive federal formula funds specifically for resiliency work, so cities have reliable sources of funding for long-term, generational projects to protect against the impacts of climate change.
"New York City securing $2.3 billion to modernize aging infrastructure is exactly why I fought so hard to lead the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to passage," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. "Whether it's funding for water-sewer upgrades, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Inwood Greenway, tree planting in Queens, or safe charging at NYCHA, this whopping federal funding has produced investments in New York's infrastructure not seen in a generation - not to mention jobs, jobs, jobs. The city's top-notch Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force has secured competitive grants made possible by these landmark pieces of legislation, and will secure even more. I'm proud to have delivered these billions to advance critical New York City projects and boost upgraded infrastructure, the local economy and climate resiliency."
"I'm proud to have played a key role in passing the federal legislation that made this critical funding possible and in securing these substantial investments for New York City's infrastructure," said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "These $2.3 billion in funds represent transformative opportunities to create jobs, enhance resiliency, and ensure our city is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Through close collaboration with New York City and stakeholders, we've delivered essential resources that will strengthen our communities and make a lasting impact on New Yorkers' lives."
"In the last Congress, House Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, making it a priority to deliver state-of-the-art roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit and clean air and clean water for every American," said U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "As part of that effort, I am proud to have been able to fight to make sure we could fund a $20 million overhaul for Broadway Junction, a central connector between many of the communities I am privileged to represent, as well as another $100 million to mitigate stormwater runoff in neighborhoods that continue to experience devastating flooding. I am grateful to Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi for their partnership in fighting for $2.3 billion for New York City to make life better for the people we are privileged to represent, and I look forward to continuing our work so that New York City and the entire United States of America have the robust infrastructure we deserve."
"As New York's representative on the Regional Leadership Council - which works to promote and oversee implementation of legislation signed by President Biden - I am proud to see that federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is continuing to support long-overdue projects across New York City," said U.S. Representative Grace Meng. "Thanks to this historic legislation, I am particularly happy to see unprecedented infrastructure investments in my own Queens Congressional District. Continuing to maintain and upgrade our local infrastructure is crucial, and I am grateful to see federal funding, which I helped to pass in Congress, supporting these updates throughout our city."
"As one of the members of Congress who voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I am happy to see that this legislation is delivering critical infrastructure improvement projects including modernized ferries, sewers, roads, bridges, and tunnels throughout our city," said U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis.
"This historic $2.3 billion investment in New York City's infrastructure and climate preparedness is built off of a strong partnership with our federal partners, our congressional delegation, and the dozens of grant writers and project managers who are advancing shovel ready and shovel worthy projects," said Brady Hamed, director of strategic initiatives, New York City Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force. "With projects across all five boroughs ranging from safer streets to electric school buses, and from flood walls to solar panels, all New Yorkers will benefit from the investment of the Biden Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act."
"The Adams administration, under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Joshi, has demonstrated unprecedented skill in winning federal infrastructure funding for our city," said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. "These dollars are vitally important to leverage our local tax dollars."
"This administration has been incredibly effective and active in seeking federal infrastructure grants, securing $2.3 billion to meet New York's pressing infrastructure needs," said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., president and CEO, New York Building Congress. "Spearheaded by Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, this funding drives vital projects - from transforming the Brooklyn Marine Terminal to deploying electric school buses - enhancing the city's climate resilience and accommodating its growth. To continue this progress, it's critical to reauthorize the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act programs, shifting towards sustained, non-competitive funding for large cities like ours. The New York Building Congress will continue advocating for further federal investment to support essential improvements like these, and many more to come."
"Long-lasting improvements to the New York City waterfront, the creation of a new park in Queens, and a vast improvement in our stormwater system will be made possible with new federal funds coming to New York City as a result of the leadership of Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi," said Mitchell L. Moss, professor of urban policy and planning, New York University. "New York City is moving forward with projects that are vital to our future and that will improve the life of all New Yorkers."