07-03-2025
Over a third of $178M Erie County ARP funds going to sewers
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County touted its allocation of American Rescue Plan funds Friday morning, with nearly $64 million going towards sewer upgrades.
Over $56 million of the sewerage investment has already been spent. Upgrades include the replacement and fixing of over sixty miles of collection system pipes and $22.7 million towards the Southtowns Advanced Wastewater Treatment facility.
'As I have said before, sewers are not sexy but they are essential and you want them to work,' said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. 'These upgrades are expensive but necessary and would have had to be completed in the next 5-10 years anyway, but at a much larger cost to the county were it not for the ARP funds.'
The $178.4 million in ARP funds are being divided as follows:
Division of Sewerage Management/Erie County Sewer Districts – $63.97M
ErieNET Broadband Open Access Network – $34M
Department of Public Works – $24.71M
Affordable housing – $20M
Parks, recreation, and forestry – $13.1M
Infrastructure – $10.95M
Economic and workforce development – $6.62M
Health – $5.08M
Improvements and maintenance will be coming to the Buffalo Convention Center and the Botanical Gardens, and a new roof is expected for SUNY Erie City Campus.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.
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