Governor David A. Paterson released an Economic Recovery Cabinet report
on Monday, November 2, outlining how $18 billion of American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds are distributed throughout New York
State Counties, including Saratoga County which received $89 million.
In an effort to keep the public informed about how stimulus programs are affecting their communities, the state has created a database detailing the full report that can be viewed at www.recovery.ny.gov.
"This is part of our continuing effort to provide the public with transparent information that holds government accountable for the spending of their tax dollars through the stimulus program," Governor Paterson said.
The $89 million spread throughout Saratoga County includes funds for agriculture, justice, energy, park services, environmental protection, the arts, labor, health and human services, education, housing and urban development, and transportation.
A fair portion of the ARRA funds have already been put to use in the County. Saratoga Springs received $2.756 million on August 28, 2009 to be used for the Church Street Reconstruction project, which qualified as a Local Let Project under the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. An affordable senior housing project in Clifton Park, which began earlier this year, also received Federal stimulus funding. The project involves new construction of one 70-unit, three-story rental building with elevators for low and very low-income elderly and frail elderly. The project received $956,000 in new LIHC allocation and $2.4 million in TCAP funds.
Mayor Scott T. Johnson announced on October 30 that Saratoga Springs was awarded $1.5 million to construct and complete the Spring Run Trail open space initiative. The Spring Run Trail will be one of the first transit projects in the region to be fully funded by stimulus proceeds.
"We can be justifiably proud of the concerted efforts of our many residents over the years to finally bring this wonderful project to reality. While it may seem odd to some that federal funds are to be used for this type of project, rather than other infrastructure needs of the City, the criteria for eligibility fit only this project. This trail is an important step in our preservation and expansion of our often stated goal as being 'The City in the Country.' In these tough economic times and budget crisis, our taxpayers remain protected since no City funds will be used to complete this quality of life asset," Mayor Johnson said in a written statement.
A similar project also received stimulus funding. The Zim Smith Trail in the towns of Ballston and Malta was awarded $838,000 to construct the two-mile pedestrian trail that connects two existing trails between Oak Street in Ballston Spa and Eastline Road in Malta. This project will address the lack of trail continuity in the area and will help complete the area's overall trail system measuring approximately six miles from Ballston to the town of Halfmoon in Saratoga County.
Saratoga Arts was awarded $15,000 to convert a part-time position to a full-time position.
Saratoga Arts was one of 27 organizations awarded a grant out of about 400 that applied.
According to Executive Director Joel Reed, Saratoga Arts supports local artists and non profit groups by re-granting New York State Council of the Arts grants.
"Every year we apply to NYSCA for money that we can then re-grant back to local arts organizations, when they give us that money they give us some administrative support to help staff the program to run it, but they don't give us enough. So this [$15,000] is for additional salary support," Reed said.
The stimulus money will cover the Grants Administrator position in their Saratoga office.
"That's a very direct benefit. It helps us maintain this program that supports art throughout Saratoga. [The Grants Administrator] is a Saratoga Springs resident, so it's even helping the local economy by keeping a viable position here in town. Arts and culture is a huge part of our economy. Studies show that every dollar someone spends on an arts event is four dollars in the community because people will go out to eat or grab a coffee afterward. It's an economic engine with a multiplier effect of generating more revenue. It's great that we got it," Reed said.
The full report detailing how the $89 million in ARRA funds is distributed also indicates the following:
Agricultural spending received $5.4 million, of which $22,000 goes toward nutrition programs for women, infants and children, $5.346 million for the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), and $61,000 for SNAP administrative expenses. ARRA money used for administrative expenses will cover the costs of delivering such services to Saratoga County residents in need, such as individual jobs.
The County received $65 million in Byrne Memorial Justice Grants.
Of the $3.318 million towards energy, $149,000 will go toward the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Program, while $3.169 million will be used to the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Saratoga County received $64,000 for National Park Service construction.
For environmental protection, the County received $5.99 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The National Endowment for the Arts received $15,000.
Saratoga County received $27.6 million for labor, which covers unemployment.
Health and Human Services received a total of $9.903 million of which $8.66 million will go for Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (which will be distributed over a period of 27 months); $6.28 million for the Emergency Fund, which provides temporary assistance to needy families; $362,000 for Community Services Block Grants; and $253,000 for Children and Family Services, or the Head Start Program.
ARRA funds for education in Saratoga County total $27.395 million. $17.28 million for fiscal stabilization of state and government education services; $1.239 million for Title I, which supports education for the disadvantaged and provides grants to local education agencies; $65,000 for school improvement and education for homeless children; $8.731 million will go toward the Individuals with Disabilities Act Part B, State grants; $78,000 will go toward the Individuals with Disabilities Act Part C, infants and families; and $2,000 in Pell Grants which provides student financial assistance.
For housing and urban development, the County received $5.146 million. This includes $858,000 in public housing capital fund allocations; $99,000 in Community Development Block Grants to be used over two years; $3.740 million for the Tax Credit Assistance Program; and $448,000 for project-based real assistance, which supports Section 8 housing.
Finally, Saratoga County received $10.234 million for Transportation. This includes $10.203 in supplemental grants for highway investing, and $31,000 for non-urban transit.
To view the full report, visit http://www.recovery.ny.gov/assets/documentsCounty_Analysis_Posting_102909.xls.
"This is part of our continuing effort to provide the public with transparent information that holds government accountable for the spending of their tax dollars through the stimulus program," Governor Paterson said.
The $89 million spread throughout Saratoga County includes funds for agriculture, justice, energy, park services, environmental protection, the arts, labor, health and human services, education, housing and urban development, and transportation.
A fair portion of the ARRA funds have already been put to use in the County. Saratoga Springs received $2.756 million on August 28, 2009 to be used for the Church Street Reconstruction project, which qualified as a Local Let Project under the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. An affordable senior housing project in Clifton Park, which began earlier this year, also received Federal stimulus funding. The project involves new construction of one 70-unit, three-story rental building with elevators for low and very low-income elderly and frail elderly. The project received $956,000 in new LIHC allocation and $2.4 million in TCAP funds.
Mayor Scott T. Johnson announced on October 30 that Saratoga Springs was awarded $1.5 million to construct and complete the Spring Run Trail open space initiative. The Spring Run Trail will be one of the first transit projects in the region to be fully funded by stimulus proceeds.
"We can be justifiably proud of the concerted efforts of our many residents over the years to finally bring this wonderful project to reality. While it may seem odd to some that federal funds are to be used for this type of project, rather than other infrastructure needs of the City, the criteria for eligibility fit only this project. This trail is an important step in our preservation and expansion of our often stated goal as being 'The City in the Country.' In these tough economic times and budget crisis, our taxpayers remain protected since no City funds will be used to complete this quality of life asset," Mayor Johnson said in a written statement.
A similar project also received stimulus funding. The Zim Smith Trail in the towns of Ballston and Malta was awarded $838,000 to construct the two-mile pedestrian trail that connects two existing trails between Oak Street in Ballston Spa and Eastline Road in Malta. This project will address the lack of trail continuity in the area and will help complete the area's overall trail system measuring approximately six miles from Ballston to the town of Halfmoon in Saratoga County.
Saratoga Arts was awarded $15,000 to convert a part-time position to a full-time position.
Saratoga Arts was one of 27 organizations awarded a grant out of about 400 that applied.
According to Executive Director Joel Reed, Saratoga Arts supports local artists and non profit groups by re-granting New York State Council of the Arts grants.
"Every year we apply to NYSCA for money that we can then re-grant back to local arts organizations, when they give us that money they give us some administrative support to help staff the program to run it, but they don't give us enough. So this [$15,000] is for additional salary support," Reed said.
The stimulus money will cover the Grants Administrator position in their Saratoga office.
"That's a very direct benefit. It helps us maintain this program that supports art throughout Saratoga. [The Grants Administrator] is a Saratoga Springs resident, so it's even helping the local economy by keeping a viable position here in town. Arts and culture is a huge part of our economy. Studies show that every dollar someone spends on an arts event is four dollars in the community because people will go out to eat or grab a coffee afterward. It's an economic engine with a multiplier effect of generating more revenue. It's great that we got it," Reed said.
The full report detailing how the $89 million in ARRA funds is distributed also indicates the following:
Agricultural spending received $5.4 million, of which $22,000 goes toward nutrition programs for women, infants and children, $5.346 million for the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), and $61,000 for SNAP administrative expenses. ARRA money used for administrative expenses will cover the costs of delivering such services to Saratoga County residents in need, such as individual jobs.
The County received $65 million in Byrne Memorial Justice Grants.
Of the $3.318 million towards energy, $149,000 will go toward the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Program, while $3.169 million will be used to the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Saratoga County received $64,000 for National Park Service construction.
For environmental protection, the County received $5.99 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
The National Endowment for the Arts received $15,000.
Saratoga County received $27.6 million for labor, which covers unemployment.
Health and Human Services received a total of $9.903 million of which $8.66 million will go for Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (which will be distributed over a period of 27 months); $6.28 million for the Emergency Fund, which provides temporary assistance to needy families; $362,000 for Community Services Block Grants; and $253,000 for Children and Family Services, or the Head Start Program.
ARRA funds for education in Saratoga County total $27.395 million. $17.28 million for fiscal stabilization of state and government education services; $1.239 million for Title I, which supports education for the disadvantaged and provides grants to local education agencies; $65,000 for school improvement and education for homeless children; $8.731 million will go toward the Individuals with Disabilities Act Part B, State grants; $78,000 will go toward the Individuals with Disabilities Act Part C, infants and families; and $2,000 in Pell Grants which provides student financial assistance.
For housing and urban development, the County received $5.146 million. This includes $858,000 in public housing capital fund allocations; $99,000 in Community Development Block Grants to be used over two years; $3.740 million for the Tax Credit Assistance Program; and $448,000 for project-based real assistance, which supports Section 8 housing.
Finally, Saratoga County received $10.234 million for Transportation. This includes $10.203 in supplemental grants for highway investing, and $31,000 for non-urban transit.
To view the full report, visit http://www.recovery.ny.gov/assets/documentsCounty_Analysis_Posting_102909.xls.
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