Southern Tier counties are among the biggest winners in a statewide initiative aimed at revitalizing infrastructure and accelerating housing development. On July 2, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $36 million in state funding for 48 projects through New York’s County Infrastructure Grant Program, administered by Empire State Development.

"I know firsthand how critical infrastructure is in order to uplift communities and bring families and loved ones together,” Hochul said in a statement.

The program supports small- and mid-sized county-led projects that spur economic growth and align with the governor’s housing priorities. “The grants awarded through this program will enable counties across the state to address critical community needs that would not otherwise happen, promoting local and regional growth," added Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight.

In the Southern Tier, projects range from critical water and sewer upgrades to large-scale housing developments:

• Allegany County will receive $500,000 for water infrastructure near Exit 30 off I-86 to support a travel center and address arsenic contamination concerns.
• Broome County is awarded $500,000 for infrastructure at Homestead Village at the Glen in Endwell, aiding the addition of 33 duplex units.
• Chemung County secures $992,500 for major utility and roadway work to support over 100 new homes in Big Flats.
• Steuben County gains $1 million to install water and wastewater systems for the 100-unit Park Grove Erwin Apartments project.
• Tioga County is allocated $1 million to demolish vacant buildings and make way for a consolidated county office and utility upgrades at two Main Street locations in Owego.
• Livingston County receives $256,652 to extend a water main into Nunda’s business district, improving supply for users like Once Again Nut Butter, the area’s top employer.
• Tompkins County lands $1 million to redevelop a 95-acre industrial site in Ithaca into a mixed-use project with 915 housing units, commercial space, and new public infrastructure.

Statewide, the grant-supported projects are expected to help build more than 2,750 new homes, many in areas facing housing shortages.

These infrastructure upgrades come as part of Gov. Hochul’s broader push to combat New York’s housing crisis while strengthening economic development in underserved communities. By targeting underutilized or aging infrastructure, especially in rural and upstate counties, the grants aim to unlock new housing capacity and prepare sites for private investment.

The initiative also reflects a growing emphasis on “shovel-ready” development — ensuring counties have the utilities, roads, and services in place to attract developers and meet local housing goals. Projects like Tompkins County’s Ithaca redevelopment illustrate the shift toward large-scale infill and mixed-use plans that blend residential and commercial needs.

With the support of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, local leaders across the Southern Tier can now accelerate projects that have long been stalled due to lack of funding or complex engineering challenges. Combined, the region’s share of the grant represents a major investment in both immediate construction activity and long-term community growth.

Originally reported by Jeff Murray in Press Connects.