Greenwood Lake, NY – U.S. Rep John Hall joined local officials today to tour the Greenwood Lake Village Hall, site of one of two Greenwood Lake projects that will be receiving $564,403.50 in recently announced American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding that Hall helped secure. The federal funding will go towards building a riparian buffer of protective vegetation for the lake and constructing a comprehensive stormwater system for the Village Hall to protect Greenwood Lake from polluted runoff. At the same time, the funding will create new, good paying jobs in Orange County. Hall was joined by Village Mayor Barbara Moore, Assemblywoman Anne Rabbit, and Village Planner Karen Emmerich for the site tour. This site is one of New York’s Green Innovation Projects that will reduce energy costs, conserve water and promote green infrastructure throughout the state.

 

Following brief remarks, Congressman Hall joined Assemblywoman Rabbit and village officials in touring the Greenwood Lake Village Hall project area, discussing in detail the construction planned.

 

It is estimated that these projects will create 17 jobs for Hudson Valley workers. The funding comes from the Recovery Act and goes toward two distinct projects. $550,890 in funding will go towards a redevelopment of the Village Hall property. $13,513.50 in additional funding will go towards building buffers along the lake shore. The lake shore project involves building buffers of planted areas along the lake shore to filter pollutants from water draining into the lake. The Village Hall project is an ambitious comprehensive plan to drastically reduce pollution runoff from the Village Hall and Village Hall parking areas by replacing portions of the main parking lot pavement with stormwater planters and biofilters, pervious pavement, and adding rain gardens and bioswales.

 

Beyond the 17 new jobs created directly, the project will prompt the local purchase of building materials, which will create additional stimulus to the local economy.

 

"This Recovery Act funding creates jobs in Orange County while upgrading municipal buildings and protecting Greenwood Lake," said Congressman Hall. "We're putting Hudson Valley residents back to work, while guarding our precious natural resources."

 

-30-