Molinaro, Red Hook Leaders Tour Grant-Funded Projects
Accessibility improvements, solar farm among highlighted projects

Poughkeepsie … County Executive Marc Molinaro today joined Town of Red Hook Supervisor Robert McKeon and Village of Red Hook Mayor Ed Blundell to tour several local projects, funded through the County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Municipal Innovation Grant (MIG) programs.

The projects visited today have provided the municipalities – or will provide, when completed – accessibility and safety enhancements for residents of every ability, as well as cost savings through shared services.

County Executive Molinaro said, “By leveraging federal dollars through our Community Development Block Grant program, Dutchess County has long chosen to #ThinkDIFFERENTLY and partner with municipalities to make making accessibility investments that benefit residents with disabilities, as well as those provide safety improvements and cost savings. In Red Hook, several CDBG projects have enhanced pedestrian access and safety, and we have worked with the town and village through our Municipal Innovation Grant program to implement a solar array, which will lower energy costs for residents.”

Among the projects County Executive Molinaro, Supervisor McKeon and Mayor Blundell toured today:

• Town Hall Handicapped Access Improvements ($99,400 CDBG award) – The installation of ADA-compliant parking, sidewalks, benches, automatic doors for entrance and bathrooms, and ADA upgrades to bathrooms in the Town Hall.
• Route 9 and Firehouse Handicapped Access Improvements ($52,000 CDBG award) – Installation of 200 feet of ADA compliant sidewalks on the west side of Route 9 between Amherst and the village line, completing the connection between the Village and Town sidewalk systems; reconstruction of 200 feet of non-ADA compliant sidewalk at the firehouse to improve ADA access to main and emergency exit entries.
• Municipal Shared Solar Farm ($45,000 MIG award) – The Town, in partnership with the Village, will further its adopted Climate Action Plan, with the construction of a solar farm that will provide energy to municipal facilities, resulting in an anticipated savings of $40,000 annually.

 Additionally, a MIG award of $30,000 will allow the Town of Red Hook to hire a consultant to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of sharing court operations and locations between the town and village of Red Hook, an consolidation that’s expected to save taxpayers $40,000 annually.

Funding for the CDBG program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address locally identified community development needs, including providing infrastructure development and affordable housing, among others. CDBG Municipal applications are accepted annually by the Department of Planning and Development and are reviewed by the Community Development Advisory Committee, with recommendations forwarded to the County Executive for final approval.

MIG  program awards funding on a competitive basis to entities which have taxing authority, including, for example, cities, towns, villages and school, water, sewer and fire districts. Priority is given to projects that are multi-jurisdictional, leverage other funding sources, dissolve a layer of government and demonstrate savings to taxpayers, a reduction in the property tax levy or a significant increase in the municipal tax base, while providing an equal or better level of service.

County Executive Molinaro will discuss further accessible and inclusive efforts through the County’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiatives when he presents his 2020 Executive Budget Address on Wednesday, October 30th at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Chambers, 22 Market Street in Poughkeepsie, in advance of the November 1st deadline required by the Dutchess County Administrative Code. The County Executive’s Budget Address can be viewed live on the County’s website, www.dutchessny.gov. 

Later that evening on the 30th, at 6:30 p.m., County Executive Molinaro and Budget Director Jessica White will host a countywide tele-town hall forum when residents will have the opportunity to participate in a live conversation about the 2020 County Budget, learn key details, ask questions and share feedback. County Executive Molinaro will also host a series of 2020 Executive Budget town hall forum events throughout the county during the month of November.