Herkimer In Line For State Funding

At a press conference in Herkimer Senator James L. Seward unveiled more than $129,000 in local senate initiatives to assist various programs and municipalities throughout Herkimer County. The funding will assist local entities and enhance tourism, social services, local government, emergency preparedness and voluntary emergency services in Herkimer County.

Seward made the announcements at the Herkimer Village Hall, where he announced a $20,000 grant for improvements to the village's baseball fields. The funding will assist with the installation of drainage and other corrective action to improve the usefulness of the fields.

"New York must provide value for the tax dollar, and this funding will do so by assisting many local programs that reduce pressure on government services, enhance our quality of life, and return revenue to state and local governments in tourism," Seward said. "The funding will offer genuine assistance to local governments and organizations that find themselves strapped for funding to provide needed services."

The Town of Herkimer is in line for a $50,000 senate grant toward renovation of its town offices at 114 N. Prospect Street. Town offices were moved into the facility in March of 2005, but some worked remained to be accomplished at that time. Site of the former social security office, the facility will accommodate all town services.

Emergency services and disaster preparedness in the county will get a boost from awards to the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Frankfort Center Volunteer Fire Department. Seward announced $10,000 for the American Red Cross to initiate disaster preparedness plans within neighborhoods and to purchase public awareness and response materials.

The Frankfort Center Volunteer Fire Department will receive $15,000 toward the cost of materials and labor to construct a fire training building for the training of firefighters in "live burn" situations, ladder use and rappelling.

Other organizations receiving senate funding:
AGENCY PROGRAM AMOUNT
CNY Volunteer Fire Police2006 convention $ 5,000
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tourism map 2,500
Herk. Co. SWCD Soil survey map 12,000
Herkimer Co. Youth Bureau Youth violence prevention3,000
Mohawk Valley Network Prescription drug funding 5,000
Town of Warren Hist. Society Cemetery improvements 7,000

"The senate funding will provide dividends in tourism, emergency services, and locally identified community needs that would not be possible without senate assistance," Senator Seward said.

"When it comes to local governments and fire departments in particular, the senate aid reduces pressure on tax rates and tight budgets, especially in rural areas."

Seward said the money was set aside in the 2005-2006 state budget.

"The programs identified as eligible for the awards improve the quality of life of many people in specific ways. I am glad that the senate could assist," Seward concluded.