Tannersville Receives More than 1 Million Grant for DPW Relocation

ALBANY — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced $22.7 million in Climate Smart Communities Grant awards for 43 projects to help municipalities take action to address climate change. This year’s funded projects reduce flood risk by retrofitting or relocating critical infrastructure, support decreasing transportation emissions through cycling and walkability projects, reduce emissions from food waste and landfills, and undertake engineering feasibility studies to advance future climate projects, among many other actions.  

“DEC’s Climate Smart Communities grants support municipal investments to reduce pollution, protect the environment, and increase community resilience to climate impacts and severe weather,” Commissioner Lefton said. “Governor Kathy Hochul recognizes reducing harmful emissions and advancing climate equity is critical to improving New Yorkers’ health and quality of life, while also helping save money on energy costs. DEC is proud of our partnerships with local governments taking the lead on climate adaptation and resilience statewide.”  

Funding for the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant Program is supported by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the State's Environmental Protection Fund, which was increased to a record $425 million in the 2025-26 State Budget. Since the program's inception in 2016, DEC awarded more than $109 million to municipalities through the CSC Grant program in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects.  

As part of the CSC Grant Program, municipalities are required to provide a local match of 50 percent of the total costs for most projects. Last year’s New York State budget made grants more accessible to more communities by authorizing DEC to provide up to 80 percent of the cost for municipal projects that meet criteria for financial hardship and for projects located in disadvantaged communities.   

This includes one local grant to Tannersville:

Village of Tannersville - $1,166,400 - DPW Relocation Project 

Tannersville will relocate the Department of Public Works garage out of the 100-year floodplain of the Gooseberry Creek. The new facility will be a shared with the town of Hunter and the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District and be built on a Town parcel outside of the floodplain. During Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, floodwaters reached approximately 36 feet within the building. 

The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program is one component of the larger, interagency CSC Program that was established in 2009. To date, more than 465 local governments representing more than 17.9 million New Yorkers, or 92% of the population, have committed to mitigating and adapting to climate change by adopting the CSC pledge. This interagency effort is jointly sponsored by DEC, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Power Authority, Department of State, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Service, and Division of Homes and Community Renewal.  

Since 2014, DEC has managed the CSC Certification Program with the support of these partner agencies. Starting in 2016, the CSC Grant Program has funded projects that help municipalities earn points under the CSC Certification Program. At present there are more than 165 local governments that have gone above and beyond the CSC pledge to achieve certification. DEC also provides free technical assistance to local governments through the regional CSC coordinators. Find out more on the Climate Smart Communities webpage.