SALT is hoping to get the word out about both a looming deadline for some of the New York Rising funds and a meeting to gather input on a second piece of the state funding puzzle to be held Thursday at the Landis Arboretum in Esperance.
The second piece-the $12 million in flood recovery and reconstruction for projects in the Village and Town of Esperance and the Villages of Schoharie and Middleburgh Governor Cuomo announced in a visit to SUNY Cobleskill two weeks ago-is actually the first:
The Schoharie County NY Rising Planning Committee will gather public input on which projects should be funded in a public meeting 6:30-8:30pm at the Arboretum Meeting Room.
From there, the committee will come up with a list of projects to submit to the Governor for consideration by the end of October.
A second public meeting will be held on October 24, before that state deadline.
For more information on the meetings or the municipal piece of NY Rising, contact co-chairs Sarah Goodrich, 702-5017, or Georgia Van Dyke, 296-8820.
Of equal concern, said SALT's Jerrine Corallo, is the October 6 deadline for homeowners and businesses eligible for the Recreate New York Smart Home program, which is being funded separately by the state.
"There's a real sense of urgency with the deadline," Ms. Corallo said. "We don't want people to miss it."
The Smart Home funds are for those with unmet needs from Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee, she said, and both homeowners and business owners may be eligible for grants of up to $50,000.
Ms. Corallo said SALT has contacted those they're aware of who might be eligible, but again, stressed the October 6 deadline.
"We've heard there could be additional rounds of funding," she said, "but it's never a good idea to wait.
"These two funding streams are different...it's important people don't get confused,"
Ms. Corallo said anyone who's already made flood-related repairs could still be eligible for Smart Home help if they've kept their receipts.
Anyone who hasn't applied needs to go to StormRecoveryNY.gov or call (855) 697-7263.
They can also call SALT for help, 705-5017.
Anyone who has already applied needs to respond to the letter they receive back ASAP, Ms. Corollo said, and anyone who hasn't heard back from the state needs to contact the state again or SALT.
Inspectors are now scheduling the state-required appointments for the Smart Home grants; they're expected to last about two hours.