Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $1,891,000 investment for NY Works projects that will allow for five flood control system and dam repair projects in the Mohawk Valley.

NY Works is designed to reinvent state economic development with innovative new strategy that will put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state's infrastructure. The Task Force will help create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.

"For the second year in a row, New York State has passed a transformative and balanced budget that holds the line on spending, while focusing on job creation and government efficiency," Governor Cuomo said. "The centerpiece of this budget is the New York Works program, which will help rebuild our aging infrastructure, including our dams and flood control systems, to protect people and property throughout our state."

Senator Hugh T. Farley said, "New York State has been hit by several major floods in recent years, with the Mohawk Valley Region being significantly impacted in both 2006 and 2011. The State needs to take additional steps to help prevent future flooding. The New York Works program is a critical tool that will allow us to undertake numerous infrastructure projects -- including important flood control projects around the State -- while also creating needed jobs."

State Senator Jim Seward said, "Ever since Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee devastated our State, lives have been altered. I have teamed with Governor Cuomo, state officials, and local leaders to rebuild our communities, but the job is far from complete. Local budgets are tapped out and without State support the work will stall. Through New York Works, infrastructure repairs and mitigation projects will be completed, protecting life and property, creating jobs and giving people peace of mind."

State Senator Joe Griffo said, "The past two years, tens of thousands of people from parts of the Mohawk Valley were affected by record-breaking floods, and while no one is suggesting that we can anticipate each and every natural disaster, the Administration and the Senate realized that we must enhance and update the preventative measures and management plans we have in place today."

"Strengthening our dams and restoring our flood control systems is crucial to the health and safety of our communities," said Speaker Sheldon Silver. "I am pleased to announce funding to support NY Works flood prevention projects in the Mohawk Valley."

Assemblymember Anthony J. Brindisi said, "Communities in the Mohawk Valley have sustained damage from two major floods just within the last year. This funding will improve flood control measures to help ensure our homes and businesses stay safe when river and creek water levels rise."

The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the NY Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state's roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.

The Budget includes key economic development and transportation initiatives, important reforms to improve government efficiency, and measures to strengthen communities across the state.

NY Works Task Force

The NY Works Task Force will coordinate capital plans across 45 agencies and authorities, oversee investment in projects and access to funding, and facilitate the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

Prior to the NY Works initiative, there was no comprehensive state plan for the $16 billion in annual capital expenditures by 45 state agencies and authorities. In some cases, including with respect to projects by the Port Authority, the MTA, and the Department of Transportation, billions of dollars of taxpayer or commuter funds are being used to fund transportation plans in the same region with no coordination between the agencies. For the first time, the NY Works Task Force will develop a coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities. The Task Force, made up of leaders in finance, labor, planning and transportation will also recommend financing options for projects and methods to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure.

The NY Works Task Force will consist of fifteen members. Nine of the members will be appointed by the Governor and six by the Legislature. All major state agencies and authorities will participate in an implementation council to coordinate capital planning.

All NY Works projects will be posted on the web with real-time updates so that New Yorkers can track the progress of projects in their community. The full list will be posted online over the next several days.

Repairing New York's Dams and Flood Control Infrastructure

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) maintains 106 flood control projects, of which 91 have been rated "minimally acceptable" or "unacceptable" by the Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, DEC owns 577 dams statewide. Of the DEC-owned dams, DEC engineers classify at least 24 dams as "high" and "intermediate" hazard structures, where failure poses serious threat to human life or significant property damage. The New York Works Funds will designate $102 million, leveraging more than $100 million in matching funds, to repair aged and otherwise failing structures. The $102 million will include $18.5 million to repair state-owned dams, $56 million to perform maintenance of flood control facilities such as levees, and $27 million to implement coastal erosion and inlet navigation maintenance projects, plus over $100 million in matching funds.

The NY Works dam and flood control projects in the Mohawk Valley are as follows:

Project Name	Project Description	Total Project Cost
Stewart's Landing Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Amsterdam	Flood Control Project	$379,000
Herkimer	Flood Control Project	$624,000
Holland Patent	Flood Control Project	$78,000
Unadilla	Flood Control Project	$5,000
DEC Region 6 Equipment	Additional funds to support all projects in the region	$170,000
DEC Region 6 Maintenance	Additional funds to support all projects in the region	$135,000
	Total:	$1,891,000