New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that $2.1 million in state grant funding is heading to local municipalities to help complete important projects and upgrades related to public safety. Each municipality in the 40th Senate District is receiving $100,000 in grants, and the funding can be used at the discretion of local officials, whether it be equipment for first responders, emergency communications systems, infrastructure upgrades or pedestrian safety.
Harckham’s announcement came at a press conference held at Mount Kisco Village Hall and was hosted by Mount Kisco Mayor Michael Cindrich. Joining Harckham was a bipartisan group of 13 local leaders who spoke about how they plan to use the grant funding for projects in their municipalities.
“Public safety is Job Number One for every elected official,” said Harckham. “Knowing that too often state grants are competitive, with many municipalities left out of the queue, I am pleased to be able to fund some of the public safety projects and initiatives that are ongoing or being lined up around Senate District 40. These grants will make a real difference for these municipalities while also helping to ease the property tax burdens as well.”
To see a video of the press conference, click here.
Last year, Harckham delivered $2.1 in grant funding for projects related to public spaces from the state’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program for municipalities to enhance public spaces. In 2023, the state senator earmarked $2.1 million in grants to use on electrification projects.
To date, Harckham has secured more than $40 million in capital grants for the towns, cities, villages and community organizations across SD40 through CREST, the Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP) and State Aid to Municipalities (SAM) grants since taking office in 2019. That includes over $15 million just for local governments and over $11 million-plus for first responders—local police and fire departments, EMTs, ambulance corps, public safety professionals.
Added Harckham, “Our local officials face a number of competing challenges and priorities, which is why our partnerships with them are so vital. This funding shows that I am willing to work with all the communities and local leaders as they move forward with important projects that will benefit their communities.”