Senator Reichlin-Melnick Awards $1.8 Million to Numerous Rockland Towns and Villages

by M.C. Millman

Last Wednesday, October 26, Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick visited Ramapo Town Hall to announce grants totaling over $1.8 million he secured for critical capital improvement projects for eleven Ramapo municipalities.

The Senator presented symbolic checks which identified the projects being funded for each of the municipalities. The grants range from one to three hundred thousand dollars, which will pay for capital projects, including sidewalk improvements, heavy-duty vehicle purchases, and building upgrades.

"I served in local government, and I know how helpful grants can be to making projects happen and alleviating pressure on local property taxpayers," the Senator told Rockland Daily. "Delivering state dollars to the municipalities I represent is one of the most direct ways that I can help my constituents. My office works hard to reach out to local governments so they know about grant opportunities, and we help them navigate throughout the process successfully so they can receive this funding."

The following municipalities are receiving funding in this current round of grants secured by Senator Reichlin-Melnick.

Town of Ramapo, Heavy Construction Vehicles - $300.000

Village of Airmont, Sidewalk Improvements - $100,000

Village of Chestnut Ridge, Sidewalk Improvements - $100.000

Village of Kaser, Street Sweeper - $280,000

Village of New Hempstead, Sidewalk Improvements - $100,000

Village of New Square, Capital Improvements to Support EMS - $280,000

Village of Pomona, Village Hall Roof Renovations - $100,000

Village of Spring Valley, Heavy Duty Construction Vehicle - $110,000

Village of Sloatsburg, Library Improvements - $100,000

Village of Suffern, New Boiler System - $235,000

Village of Wesley Hills, LED Lighting Bollards -$100,000

"The check will help us with a very momentous project," Chaim Rose, Village of Chestnut Ridge Trustee, shared with Rockland Daily. "It will be utilized to erect sidewalks within the Village, specifically on roads with double yellow lines. The Senator has been superb in constituent services, he is easily accessible, and it is with much gratitude and appreciation that we accepted the $100,000 check on behalf of the Village."

It's very crucial and appreciated," Sruly Eisenbach, Village of Spring Valley trustee, tells Rockland Daily, "when we get grants from the State and/or Federal level so we can relieve the burden on the Village taxpayers and avoid increasing taxes."

Over the course of the summer, the two Ramapo villages not included in this event, Montebello and Hillburn, celebrated similar announcements of grant funding the Senator had secured for them in the previous cycle. 

The Senator encouraged all the municipalities to apply for grant funds for future projects and assured the municipalities he will continue to fight for funding to be available for all of the communities he represents.