For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 8, 2012

HANNA HELPS NEWARK VALLEY RECEIVE $700,000 FOR WATER PIPE PROJECT

Newark Valley secures $700,000 from USDA to finish project
Water pipe replacement will improve transmission mains in village

NEWARK VALLEY, N.Y. – U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna today announced that the Village of Newark Valley will be able to use $700,000 in leftover federal funding to replace undersized water pipes in the village.
Hanna asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development division, to allow Newark Valley to use the remainder of funding from a similar project. When the village was first approved for funding to address its aging infrastructure, the maps misrepresented what was actually underground.

Due to the inaccurate mapping, the scope of the project changed – therefore altering the engineering report that was submitted to obtain the original money for the project. Hanna said the community shouldn’t be penalized for an administrative glitch in the process.

“It’s a common situation in the construction industry to not know what you’re really working with until you get underground,” said Congressman Hanna, who owned and operated a construction company for 30 years in Upstate New York. “I’m pleased USDA agreed that the village should be able to use the remainder of the funding to complete this project that is so important to the residents of Newark Valley.”

Congressman Hanna worked closely with Newark Valley Mayor Jim Tornatore to address the issue and speak with USDA to approve use of the leftover funding. While the village’s proposed use of the remaining monies was within the size and scope of the original project, it isn’t an easy process to be approved for leftover funding from a project.

“I wish to commend the efforts and success of Congressman Richard Hanna and his office for steering this request through the channels of government,” Mayor Tornatore said. “Our community of Newark Valley thanks him for his steady hand and accomplishment.  Our village residents will know the value of good government at the Congressional level because they will see the results through this much-needed project.”

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