New York Construction Report staff writer
More than $325 million in federal funding for critical infrastructure and community resilience projects across New York State has been eliminated due to cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Thursday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked funding for dozens of projects that had not yet begun construction and placed another $56 million in active projects at potential risk. The move is expected to impact public housing, stormwater mitigation, and climate resilience efforts, particularly in New York City, as well as regions including Buffalo, the Capital Region, and Westchester County.
“In the last few years, New Yorkers have faced hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, wildfires and even an earthquake –– and FEMA assistance has been critical to help us rebuild,” Hochul said in a statement. “Cutting funding for communities across New York is short-sighted and a massive risk to public safety.”
The BRIC program supports states, territories, local governments, and Tribal Nations in developing projects that reduce disaster risk and build long-term resiliency.
Among the hardest hit are several flood mitigation efforts in New York City, including:
- $50 million for the Central Harlem Cloudburst Hub, which aims to reduce flooding across a 370-acre area that includes schools, hospitals, and elder care facilities.
- $50 million for the East Elmhurst Cloudburst Hub, targeting residential flood mitigation.
- $46.6 million for the Kissena Corridor Cloudburst Hub and $47 million for the Corona East Cloudburst Hub, both focused on integrated stormwater management solutions.
- $42.4 million for the Seaport Coastal Resilience Project in Lower Manhattan.
Other NYC projects affected include stormwater protections for public housing sites such as the Breukelen Houses, the Polo Grounds Houses, and the Nostrand and Sheepshead Bay Houses, totaling more than $46 million. An additional $13 million in funding was cut for flood protection at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, a vital hub for the city’s food supply.
Outside New York City, cuts include:
- $24 million for the Vischer Ferry Dam Ice Jam and Flood Mitigation Project, aimed at preventing ice-related flooding in the Capital Region.
- $731,000 for the Upper Minkel Dam decommissioning in Westchester County, a project designed to reduce downstream flood risk and restore natural stream systems.
- $284,000 for a workforce training and building code modernization project in Buffalo.
“It is far more expensive to rebuild than it is to prevent damage before it happens,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “Mitigation is the best way to save taxpayer dollars and increase resiliency.”
