The Village of Potsdam intends to apply for $750,000 in grant funding to rehabilitate the East Dam Hydro-Electric Generating Plant.

There will be a public hearing on June 29 on a proposed application for funding through the 2017 NYS Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG program.

The hearing will be held in the Civic Center Board Room, 2 Park St. at 3:30 p.m.

A draft application for CDBG Program grant assistance is available for public review and copying in the Office of the Village Clerk 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Residents of the village, interested persons and agencies can attend and provide comments at the hearing.

The village clerk will also accept written comments until 4 p.m. on July 17.

Comments may be submitted in person at the above address, by email at lqueor@vi.potsdam.ny.us or mailed to the Village Clerk at P.O. Box 5168, Potsdam, NY 13676.

CDBG grant funding may be used in tandem with additional New York state grant funding and debt financing provided by the New York Power Authority through its Energy Efficiency Program. The substantial rehabilitation of the East Dam Hydro-Electric Generating Plant is estimated to cost $1.8 million. The village has entered into an agreement with the New York Power Authority to additionally provide engineering and project management services during construction.

The East Dam Hydro-Electric Generating Plant with two 400 kW generators, was put in service in the early 1980s as part of the village’s replacement of its water treatment plant. Electricity generated by the plant has historically been used to offset the cost of operating the village’s water and sewer plants, the Pine Street Ice Arena and area lighting for village facilities such as the Civic Center. In 2015, the plant was shut down after mechanical problems were detected in the turbine’s gearboxes.

The village will submit an application for CDBG program funding though the 2017 New York State Consolidated Funding Application round. Applications must be submitted on or before July 28 to be considered.

The Civic Center is fully accessible to those with physical disabilities.

For additional information contact Gregory Thompson, village administrator at (315) 265-7480 or Fredrick Hanss, director of planning and development at (315) 265-1670.