A regional planning agency will receive $301,514 from New York State for a project designed to coordinate stormwater work across Broome and Tioga counties.
The New York Department of State says the grant goes to the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board for Broome-Tioga Stormwater Solutions. The project brings local governments and public agencies together to plan and manage stormwater work across municipal boundaries.
Participating communities include the City of Binghamton; the towns of Binghamton, Chenango, Conklin, Dickinson, Kirkwood, Owego, Union and Vestal; and the villages of Endicott, Johnson City, Port Dickinson and Fenton. Broome and Tioga counties and the Broome County Soil and Water Conservation District are also listed as partners.
State officials say the coordinated approach is intended to reduce duplicated work, lower local costs and improve shared services. Stormwater systems can affect road drainage, flooding, water quality and the maintenance responsibilities of neighboring municipalities, making regional planning especially important where watersheds and infrastructure cross local borders.
The Southern Tier award is part of $8 million going to 25 Local Government Efficiency projects across New York. The program supports municipalities and public authorities that share services, consolidate operations or develop regional approaches to common needs.
The Department of State says the broader round of funding will help local governments modernize services while controlling costs for taxpayers. The Broome-Tioga project is one of the awards focused on improving cooperation among multiple jurisdictions rather than limiting work to a single municipality.
Project schedules and local implementation details were not included in the initial award announcement. Participating agencies are expected to coordinate the next steps as grant agreements and project work move forward.
