Grant

April 1 - 5, 2013

$3,810,412 in FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity funds to the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency, Delhi, New York, to fund the purchase and preparation of a flood resistant, shovel-ready manufacturing site in Delaware County which suffered severe damage by flooding and torrential rains from Tropical Storm Lee. Work at the site includes clearing; grading; water, sewer, and road infrastructure; and relocation of overhead utilities. The site will be leased by major regional employers including an aerospace manufacturer who would have been forced to relocate out of the region, leading to significant job loss, if a new location had not been found. This project will increase disaster resiliency for the region and ensure ongoing employment for area residents while providing the confidence to rebuild homes, support business, and community facilities. Additionally this project supports the growth of the manufacturing and transportation industry clusters. This investment is part of a $4,763,015 project that the grantee estimates will save 1,200 jobs and leverage $50 million in private investment.
$2,643,730 in FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity funds to the City of Sheffield, Alabama, to construct flood control infrastructure necessary to protect a local hospital and create new areas for future economic development. Two EF3 tornadoes and other storms hit the city in April 2011, collapsing and overwhelming parts of the storm water system. This investment is part of a $3,304,663 project that the grantee estimates will make the area more resilient to floods and save over 1,000 jobs.
$1,601,800 in FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity funds to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, Montpelier, Vermont, to fund the installation of cellular communications infrastructure in targeted areas of Northeast Kingdom, East Central Vermont, and Windham County that experienced damage from the 2011 natural disasters that lead to business disruptions due to communication failures. This project supports the Vermont Cellular Resiliency Project which is focused on increasing cellular communications in Vermont’s disaster stricken areas while providing resilient communications hot spots in villages that will provide cellular and Wi-Fi access even when commercial power is out. This investment will help Vermont capitalize on its competitive strengths, assist in the region’s long-term recovery efforts, and promote disaster resiliency. This investment is part of a $2,002,250 project that the grantee estimates will save 225 jobs and leverage $33 million in private investment.
$1.5 million in FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity funds to the Town of Faison, North Carolina, to fund construction of water infrastructure necessary to retain and expand industries that add value to the region’s hard-pressed agricultural economy. In August 2011, Hurricane Irene severely damaged the region’s crops–including cotton, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. The extreme drought worsened the economy by withering crops and delaying harvests. This investment is part of a $2.285 million project that the grantee estimates will create 80 jobs, save 75 jobs, and leverage $4.75 million in private investment.
$420,528 in FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity funds to Lyman County and the Town of Oacoma, South Dakota, to support the replacement of a compromised wastewater main serving major businesses in the region that were significantly impacted by the 2011 Missouri River flood event. Although the buildings and structures associated with the businesses avoided direct water damage, the underlying soils were found to be compromised causing the vertical and horizontal shifting of the existing wastewater main. Replacing the comprised wastewater infrastructure with a new wastewater main will help stabilize the property, support the region’s long-term recovery, spur job creation, leverage private investment, and promote disaster resiliency. This investment is part of a $525,660 project.