Tom Reed announced Montour Falls will receive a $500,000 federal grant and a $695,000 loan to assist with relocating and rehabilitating the wastewater collection systems for Montour Falls and Watkins Glen as part of continued efforts to redevelop the area from the Seneca Lake waterfront in Watkins Glen to the village of Montour Falls. “This is a great step forward for the people, the economy and the environment of Schuyler County and everyone near Seneca Lake. We care about helping everyone call the region home for generations to come and by investing in our wastewater treatment systems we are making it easier to achieve that goal,” said Reed.

The project was originally developed in 2012 to encourage economic development and environmental preservation along Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen. Degraded infrastructure systems, including the wastewater treatment plants in both Watkins Glen and Montour Falls are causing environmental concerns in the region.

"This latest award is a testament to the value of partnerships to accomplish what was previously thought to be the impossible. The new regional wastewater treatment plan is the first phase of Project Seneca and will be the largest initiative in County history. The vision and tenacity of local leaders coupled with tremendous state and federal support have made this possible. Schuyler County is extremely grateful for Congressman Reed’s support," said Tim O’Hearn, Schuyler County Administrator. 

“We will continue working with local officials on these efforts. By combining our efforts we can get these projects across the finish line together,” Reed concluded.