Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced that funding he secured in the state budget for improvements to the city of Amsterdam has been approved by the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments.

“Today is a great day for the City of Amsterdam,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “This funding will go a long way toward making smart and innovative upgrades to the city’s infrastructure as well as important safety improvements that include resources to make the switch to LED streetlights, needed updates to municipal software, and the ability to purchase another ambulance. Coupled with a number of other projects underway and additional funding I secured both in this year’s state budget and in recent years, these new initiatives will only further the significant revitalization that is taking place thanks to the people and businesses that call this city home.”

“Our City would like to thank theFinancial Restructuring Board and the staff atState Office of the Budgetfor working with City officialsover the past twoyears to help usidentify and analyzekey investment opportunities within our operations, whichwill not only save taxpayers money but alsoprovide enhancements to delivery of services andinfrastructurethat will improve thequality of lifeofour residents,” said Mayor Michael Cinquanti. “Wealso thank Assemblyman Santabarbara and Senator Hinchey for their consistent andenthusiasticadvocacy and support of this critical funding. On behalf of ourCity government and every resident of Amsterdam I want toemphasizehow appreciative we are to receive these monies.”

“Working closely with Assemblyman Santabarbara, we were able to secure critical state budget funding for the City of Amsterdam that will advance smart modernization projects targeting our local healthcare and emergency response systems, water infrastructure, and municipal lighting resources, in turn, boosting our community’s vision for revitalization,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “This state funding will help rebuild the city to its full potential and greatly optimize quality of life – from reducing our energy consumption through the conversion of cost-saving and climate-forward LED lighting technology, to assuring that Amsterdam families have access to clean water through much-needed infrastructure updates, to closing many pressing gaps that exist across our local health care system. We are thrilled to see these projects moving forward and will continue to fight on behalf of Amsterdam in the upcoming session to make sure that this vibrant city receives its fair share of state support.”

The $1.6 million in grant funding allocates expenses for improvements that will benefit taxpayers while strengthening the financial foundations of the city, noted Santabarbara. The Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments outlined the following recommendations for grant use included:

• Develop and implement a shared services plan to avoid duplicative government services;
• An update of municipal software to integrate codes, building inspections, and firedepartment activities;
• Converting lighting infrastructure to energy efficient LED technology;
• Updating water infrastructure network mapping to GIS mapping technology;
• The purchase of an additional ambulance;
• Funding to support healthcare services; and
• Additional efficiency actions that will lower the annual cost of providing specific services.