Stamford to Get $800,000 for Disaster Resiliency Investment

The Following is a Release from Stamford City Government:

On Tuesday, Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Jim Himes, and Mayor Pavia announced that the City of Stamford has been selected by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to receive $800,000 for disaster resiliency to upgrade the Dyke Lane Pumping Station, part of the Stamford Hurricane Barrier. 

The pump station keeps the Stamford Hurricane Barrier from failing, and protects the Harbor Point development and Southern Stamford from significant storm damage.  Currently, city officials risk life and limb to operate pumping stations during storms, but with the upgrade made possible from this funding, the pumping stations will be semi-automatic.

"Stamford is continuing to undergo a dramatic transformation, with Stamford becoming a hub for financial activity along the east coast,  and a $3.5 billion development project nearing completion in the southern end of the city. Failure to upgrade the Dyke Lane Pumping Station would put these recent economic investments at risk," said Senator Lieberman "If Superstorm Sandy showed us anything, it is that storm surges along the northeast will continue to get worse, and now is the time to invest in infrastructure and assets like this. I thank EDA Regional Director Willie Taylor for working with me on this matter."

"The EDA grant represents critical federal investment in flood control efforts that will protect lives and save taxpayer dollars in the long run by preventing future storm damage to homes and businesses in Stamford," Senator Blumenthal said. "As I recently urged the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, federal storm mitigation efforts should be a major priority."

Stamford was selected by the EDA through a competitive application process, and the funding has been conditionally awarded.