Brookhaven, NY—Today Congressman Tim Bishop and Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko announced $10.4 million in federal funding for the Town of Brookhaven’s Sewer District #2, which serves the Town’s Empire Zone in Shirley. The funds were awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, using federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These funds will create short-term construction jobs and long-term economic growth in Brookhaven’s Empire Zone,” Congressman Bishop said. “Without this recovery funding our local infrastructure, including clean water and wastewater treatment projects, would not be able to keep up with the increased demand on Long Island. At the same time, I will continue fighting to make sure our community receives our fair share of funding for sewage and wastewater infrastructure so we can make the investments to improve our economy.”

The funding will allow the Town of Brookhaven to move forward with a project beginning later this year to expand sewer capacity in the Empire Zone. Currently, this important area for economic growth is at full capacity because of limited sewer capacity, and there are at least three projects—a hotel, a gym, and a deli—which have been put on hold until the sewer district can be expanded. The project is expected to be completed in Fall, 2010.

“By using stimulus funds to expand the sewer district, we are improving the economic competitiveness of the Empire Zone and creating jobs,” Supervisor Lesko said. “This is an important project which will improve our economy and the quality of our environment. I applaud Congressman Bishop who has been a strong advocate for making sure Brookhaven receives our fair of federal funding.”

In addition to the economic growth which will result from expanding the Empire Zone, according to the Town, the project will create an estimated150 jobs during construction such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, heavy-equipment operators, engineers, steel miners, manufacturers as well as legal jobs, high-tech jobs, and plant operators.

Of the $10.4 million in funding, $5.2 million will be direct aid while the remaining $5.2 million will be used to subsidize a loan at half of market interest rates. That loan will be paid off by the Empire Zone’s tenants.
The compact new wastewater plant will disturb less land due to its smaller footprint and will employ energy efficient blowers, pumps, and motors reducing energy consumption by up to 20% from conventional equipment. The effluent produced from this plant will be of a very high quality, measurably cleaner than existing conditions, and will be more protective of Long Island's precious sole source aquifer.
To learn more, visit the NYSEFC Economic Recovery webpage at: www.nysefc.org/recovery.