New York State agency leadership and staff are hosting a Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act listening session in the Bronx on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., at La Central YMCA Gymnasium, 434 Westchester Ave. The $4.2 billion Bond Act approved by voters last year was the largest environmental measure on the ballot nationwide in 2022 and marks the largest Bond Act in New York history and the first since 1996. The 10 in-person and virtual educational listening tour opportunities culminate on Aug. 24 on Long Island as part of the State's commitment to a collaborative and transparent process in the way Bond Act funds are delivered.

The Bronx listening session will provide an opportunity for the public and potential funding applicants to learn more about the Bond Act and for the community to weigh in on the draft eligibility guidelines being developed to identify potential projects. The session will feature a presentation on the Bond Act and an opportunity for one-on-one discussion with State experts. The meeting is open to the public.

State agencies, local governments, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders will be able to access Environmental Bond Act funding over a multi-year process. An inter-agency working group is currently identifying needs for environmental funding across the state and developing program logistics for Bond Act implementation. The educational listening tour engages stakeholders and other interested New Yorkers and provides an opportunity to learn about the types of projects the Bond Act can support, while beginning discussions about eligibility guidelines to create or enhance existing programs to advancing funding. All proposed eligibility guidelines are released for a public comment period, as noted in the current opportunity available to guide at least $500 million in funding for zero-emission school buses and infrastructure.

New Yorkers interested in learning more about the Bond Act can find general information about the $4.2 billion landmark initiative at the Bond Act website: www.ny.gov/BondAct. The site includes general information about state and federal funding programs, State funding opportunities currently available to assist with infrastructure improvements that complement the objectives of the Bond Act, and recordings of the two virtual listening sessions.

The State also created a new web-based survey as part of ongoing efforts to involve stakeholders and all New Yorkers during the Bond Act rollout. The survey is not a formal funding application, but instead helps users share potential project ideas and other feedback on the State's funding mechanisms to help collect feedback about the types of projects communities may be seeking to support with Bond Act resources. Entries will be collected until Sept. 15, 2023.

To register for this session or the Long Island session on Aug. 24, go to www.ny.gov/BondAct.