Old Town Waterline Replacement
Account/Program: State and Tribal Assistance Grants/Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Project Request: The Old Town Waterline Replacement Project (ToT Job 3147) includes the installation of approximately 11,400LF 8-inch PVC (distribution), 4,170LF 16-inch PVC (transmission) waterline, and 23 fire hydrants to replace the aging water supply to the Old Town neighborhood in Tonawanda, New York. The area currently requires regular repairs to leaks and contains water distribution lines that are currently undersized. The historic neighborhood has a higher potential for lead water services than other neighborhoods in the water distribution network. Part of the scope of the project, the design team will work to identify lead water services and ensure proper replacement of the lead water services in the neighborhood.
Funding Request: $4,800,000
Recipient Name: Town of Tonawanda
Recipient Address: 2919 Delaware Ave, Kenmore, NY 14217
Notice of Financial Disclosure
Grand Island Water Treatment Plant Filter Upgrades
Account/Program: State and Tribal Assistance Grants/Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Project Request: The Town of Grand Island, situated in northwestern Erie County near the US-Canada border, must undertake an essential upgrade to its Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to enhance its operational efficiency and meet increasing water demands. The WTP, operational since 1938 and capable of processing 3.2 million gallons per day, draws water from the Chippewa Channel of the Niagara River. This upgrade is part of a broader Water System Capital Improvements Project aimed at addressing issues with aging and inefficient infrastructure identified in the Town's 2018 Capital Improvement Plan.
The project's primary focus is the installation of new filtration units to improve the quality and quantity of water treated, reducing reliance on external water sources and optimizing the plant's potential treatment capacity. Currently, the WTP handles an average daily flow of 1.9 million gallons, with maximum demands reaching 2.25 million gallons, and purchases approximately 25% of its water from the Niagara County Water District. This arrangement costs the Town $1.15 per 1,000 gallons more than treating water locally.
The new filters will enhance sedimentation and filtration processes that are integral to maintaining water quality and meeting regulatory standards. They will be constructed near existing sedimentation basins to maintain system hydraulics and will incorporate advanced filtration technologies, including a combined air/water backwash system to reduce water use and maintenance costs.
This upgrade will not only bolster the WTP's filtration capacity but also ensure its ability to meet future demands, projected to rise due to residential and commercial growth. The enhancements are expected to extend the facility's operational lifespan, improve its reliability, and result in cost savings by maximizing in-house water production capabilities. The total cost of the project is approximately $10.5 million, covering construction, new equipment, and associated legal and engineering expenses.
Funding Request: $7,000,000
Recipient Name: Town of Grand Island, New York
Recipient Address: 2255 Baseline Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Notice of Financial Disclosure
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Account/Program: State and Tribal Assistance Grants/Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Project Request: The Erie County Water Authority's (ECWA) lead service line replacement program is intended to improve water quality to the residents throughout the service area and is in conformance with the recently released USEPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Ownership of service lines in our system is delineated at the property line; ECWA owns from the watermain to the property line (public side), the homeowner owns from the property line into the home (private side). Under this program both lead services and galvanized services requiring replacement (GRR) will be targeted for replacement.
Based upon a recent inventory, it is estimated that there are roughly 12,000 lead and GRR service lines in the ECWA system, many of which are in Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJA), which will cost nearly $150,000,000 to fully replace. This grant funding may be utilized for both public and private side replacements, with a significant number of replacements being performed in PEJA.
Currently this investment must be borne by the system ratepayers and will not only increase the annual cost for drinking water and will divert funding from other critical capital improvements in the distribution system or at ECWA facilities. Any level of grant funding will help to offset this burden for our ratepayers and allow other projects on critical infrastructure to proceed as previously planned.
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Recipient Name: Erie County Water Authority
Recipient Address: 295 Main Street, Room 350, Buffalo, NY 14203
Notice of Financial Disclosure
D'Youville University School of Pharmacy Sterile Compounding and Non-Sterile Hazardous Compounding Lab
Account/Program: Scientific and Technical Research and Services
Project Request: D'Youville University (DYU) seeks funding to purchase equipment to transform its School of Pharmacy's drug compounding space into a secure, regulated, sterile, and non-sterile compounding space. This project will promote research and innovation at DYU and address critical service gaps in the Buffalo area. Ensuring the availability of hazardous compounding services is crucial given their vital role in treating conditions such as cancer. The ability to offer hazardous compounding services will allow critical treatments to seamlessly integrate into the local healthcare landscape, promoting convenience, accessibility, and affordability for community members.
This project will also enable DYU's School of Pharmacy to meet critical industry standards, including USP 800 and 795, which provide standards for the safe handling of hazardous drugs and compounding quality nonsterile preparations.
The significance of this project extends beyond regulatory compliance and holds the potential to redefine the landscape of hazardous compounding practices and set new industry benchmarks. DYU Pharmacy students will benefit immensely from an enriched learning environment, gaining hands-on experience in hazardous compounding that aligns with emerging career opportunities.
This transformative initiative encompasses three core components aimed at creating a secure and regulated environment for hazardous non-sterile compounding.
Funding Request: $338,000
Recipient Name: D’Youville University
Recipient Address: 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213
Notice of Financial Disclosure
Assessing Climate and Coastal Resiliency Threats, Risks, and Solutions for Lake Erie’s Eastern Basin
Account/Program: Operations, Research, and Facilities/Coastal Zone Management
Project Request: BNW work provides impactful enhancements to the quality of life within Western New York through the collection, sharing, and transfer of knowledge, improvements made to Great Lakes ecosystems, and hands-on, field-based educational programs that introduce and reconnect the community to waterways. With over 35 years of experience in monitoring water quality, restoration, education, and engagement, BNW oversees numerous community-based, scientifically driven engagement and education programs. The data is utilized by state and federal agencies in the AOC and LaMP programs and other Great Lakes-based initiatives. BNW's programs fill the needs of the community through their water quality monitoring and public notifications. We are often the first line of defense in alerting the public to potential threats to human health attributed to increasing appearances of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and E. coli bacterial contamination in local waterways. Their data collection, modeling, and planning utilizes innovative, scientifically based approaches to inform the public, elected officials, and public agencies about hazards likely to affect Lake Erie’s eastern basin’s economic future. Their educational programs serve multiple school systems and fulfill needs for place-based learning modules and mentorship opportunities that provide important on-ramps to college and to careers that public schools are unable to deliver. This program seeks to expand and enhance public awareness and understanding of Eastern Lake Erie, and the expansion of water quality, shoreline, and ecosystem monitoring programs, and to increase opportunities for all students in water education and STEM-based mentorship programs. Data gathering will contribute to understanding the state of local recreational waters as a means to protect human health, inform pollution prevention, and identify potential community and shoreline risks.
Funding Request: $443,066
Recipient Name: Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Inc.
Recipient Address: 721 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Notice of Financial Disclosure
Enhancing Public Safety in Buffalo's Entertainment & Theater District
Account/Program: State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance/Byrne Justice Grants
Project Request: Buffalo Police Department (BPD), with the support of Buffalo Place, the Theater District Association (TDA) and Shea's Performing Arts Center, will engage in initiatives to improve public safety in downtown Buffalo's Entertainment & Theater District (TD). The area is bounded by Ellicott St and Franklin St, from W. Huron St. to Tupper St. This area includes the Shea's campus, and other theaters, venues, restaurants, and retail businesses.
Efforts are underway to make the TD a 24-7 destination, but currently unless there are events happening, there is a scarcity of foot traffic in the area. When events are occurring, issues arise such as aggressive panhandling, personal and vehicular thefts, unruliness from spillover crowds from bars, and in some cases more serious crimes including assault or shots fired.
To address these issues and to improve the overall safety in the TD, BPD is proposing a multifaceted project that includes the following elements:
BPD will deploy a detail consisting on average of 1 lieutenant and 3 officers 4 times a week over a total of 48 weeks, both at times of events and mass gatherings as well as during non-event times to increase the public's confidence in coming to the area throughout the year. BPD's B-District, located within the TD, will use crime data and work with partners to remain well-informed of appropriate times for the shifts.
BPD will install 1 fixed License Plate Reader/camera in all 15 intersections within the TD and purchase 1 portable camera to be deployed at large gatherings and in micro-hot spots within the TD.
Advanced CPTED-trained personnel will use crime data and 311 calls, and will work with partners to identify appropriate public physical spaces within the TD to receive an analysis. Sites will then have projects developed and implemented to lessen crime through changes to the physical environment using CPTED principles and enhancing the TD's placemaking efforts while improving the physical space to reduce crime.
Funding Request: $894,448
Recipient Name: City of Buffalo
Recipient Address: 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202
Notice of Financial Disclosure
Center of Excellence for Cross-Border Supply Chains: Harnessing Analytics and AI for Communities
Account/Program: Scientific and Technical Research and Services
Project Request: Communities across the U.S. are eager to grow economic activity, especially in manufacturing and its supporting services, to retain talent and boost resilience. However, supply chains depend on specific components, materials, and tools, making it difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to balance global sourcing with domestic economic benefits. To address this, the University at Buffalo School of Management proposes an Institute for Global Supply Chains within its Center for Supply Chain Analytics. This new institute will help regional firms develop reshoring strategies and navigate cross-border logistics.
Leveraging UB's strong partnerships in manufacturing, logistics, and economic development, and building on our leadership in the semiconductor-focused SCAN (Supply Chain Activation Network) project, we aim to support the design of global supply networks rooted in WNY capabilities. The institute will analyze regional firm capabilities, expand to non-semiconductor sectors, and use advanced analytics and AI resources, including Empire AI, to prototype efficient, competitive supply chains.
We will provide SMEs with faculty-led, student-supported project teams to assess cross-border opportunities, factoring in labor, tariffs, energy, and logistics costs. Using Buffalo's strategic proximity to both U.S. and Canadian markets, we’ll help firms tap into regional capacity on both sides of the border.
The institute will unify regional efforts, working with local transportation councils, trade organizations, and Canadian partners to build a cohesive logistics ecosystem. Focus areas include RFID, blockchain, AI, and other tech solutions, offering a platform for startups and growth in logistics tech. By integrating university expertise, nonprofit partnerships, and SME needs, this institute will help build a more competitive and inclusive economy in the Western New York region.
Funding Request: $2,500,000
Recipient Name: University at Buffalo
Recipient Address: 501 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260
Notice of Financial Disclosure
ROLL (Replacing Our Lead Lines)
Account/Program: State and Tribal Assistance Grants/Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Project Request: Replacement of 650 lead service lines from known lead service line inventories in the City of Buffalo in disadvantaged communities. There are an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 lead service lines (LSLs) in the System. Although the City of Buffalo has an extremely effective corrosion control program, achieving long standing compliance with current and proposed regulations, it is the ultimate goal of the city to remove any and all lead from the System. Recent crises in other communities, and the ongoing learning associated with lead in drinking water, have prompted the city to aggressively address LSLs throughout the System. This is happening in various ways including ongoing research at the WTP’s state-of-the-art pipe loop laboratory, collaboration with academic institutions and other communities, and proactively replacing LSLs under several initiatives. This project represents one of the primary mechanisms that the city is actively employing for the removal and replacement of LSLs, thereby further reducing the potential risk of lead in drinking water. Buffalo has gained tremendous knowledge through its previous LSL replacement efforts, developing a service line inventory, and numerous data analytics evaluations, which was applied to developing this project. This project will replace LSLs in a section of the city known to be low income, in an identified disadvantaged community, has the greatest amount of water bill delinquency, and one of the highest rates of childhood blood lead levels. This represents a significant step by the City of Buffalo for many reasons, one of which is that the entire service line, both inside and outside of the Right-of-Way is privately owned. Moreover, this step is also significant due to the sheer number of LSLs in the System and the high rate of poverty in the city. For many individual customers, this approach is likely the only affordable way that their LSL will be replaced. However, for the System as a whole, it represents a tremendous financial burden that will strain all rate payers.
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Recipient Name: Buffalo Sewer Authority
Recipient Address: 65 Niagara Square, Room 1038, Buffalo, NY 14202
Notice of Financial Disclosure
U.S. Congressman
Timothy M. Kennedy
Representing New York's 26th District