Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $26,733,000 investment for NY Works projects that will allow for 37 flood control system and dam repair projects in the Southern Tier.

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."

State Senator Tom Libous said, "The 2011 flood devastated our community, and families and business owners are still rebuilding their lives. New York Works will not only put more people back to work, but will invest millions in rebuilding our community's infrastructure. It will also help us rebuild important resources to deal with any future storms."

State Senator Tom O’Mara said, "The 'New York Works' emphasis on restoring and upgrading dams and flood control systems locally represents another key step in revitalizing upstate New York's overall infrastructure. This revitalized effort to rebuild roads and bridges, state parks and, now, our local flood control infrastructure will create jobs and strengthen many communities. Once again, we welcome Governor Cuomo's commitment and sense of urgency to jump-start these timely, job-creating investments. New York Works will make a difference across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and throughout upstate."

"While memories of recent flooding in the region are still fresh in all our minds, I am pleased to announce over $13 million in new funding for the restoration and repair of flood control systems in the city of Ithaca," said Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton. "In addition to safeguarding our friends and neighbors, this funding invests in our local communities and creates jobs."

"Strengthening our dams and restoring our flood control systems is crucial to the health and safety of our communities," said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. "I am very happy to announce more than $3 million in funding to support NY Works flooding prevention projects for Johnston City, Vestal, Endicott, West Endicott and Twin Orchards."

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 Southern Tier are as follows:

Project Name	Project Description	Total Project Cost
Balsam Swamp Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Howard Jeffrey Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Jackson Pond Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Long Pond Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Nanticoke Creek Site 3 Dam	Critical Dam Repair	$500,000
Addison	Flood Control Project	$266,000
Avoca	Flood Control Project	$230,000
Bainbridge	Flood Control Project	$144,000
Bainbridge Section 14	Flood Control Project	$30,000
Bath	Flood Control Project	$213,000
Binghamton	Flood Control Project	$1,913,000
Conklin-Kirkwood	Flood Control Project	$25,000
Corning & Painted Post	Flood Control Project	$1,206,000
East Branch	Flood Control Project	$2,000
Elmira	Flood Control Project	$1,516,000
Endicott	Flood Control Project	$363,000
Gang Mills	Flood Control Project	$520,000
Greene	Flood Control Project	$414,000
Hammondsport	Flood Control Project	$65,000
Hammondsport (C&S)	Flood Control Project	$15,000
Hornell	Flood Control Project	$40,000
Horseheads	Flood Control Project	$15,000
Ithaca	Flood Control Project	$13,070,000
Johnson City	Flood Control Project	$720,000
Lisle	Flood Control Project	$152,000
Montour Falls	Flood Control Project	$144,000
Nichols	Flood Control Project	$143,000
Norwich	Flood Control Project	$75,000
Owego	Flood Control Project	$25,000
Oxford	Flood Control Project	$161,000
Port Dickenson	Flood Control Project	$345,000
Sherburne	Flood Control Project	$15,000
Twin Orchards	Flood Control Project	$113,000
Vestal	Flood Control Project	$1,580,000
Watkins Glen	Flood Control Project	$15,000
West Endicott	Flood Control Project	$235,000
Whitney-Point	Flood Control Project	$463,000
	Total:	$26,733,000