Cuomo announces state funding will help rebuild Keene Fire House - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Cuomo announces state funding will help rebuild Keene Fire House

KEENE, N.Y. - Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to Keene Wednesday announcing state funding that will allow construction to move forward on the town's new firehouse, one year after the station was washed away by Tropical Storm Irene.

Governor Cuomo announced up to $640,000 in state funding will be put towards the new Keene Fire Station. Construction was supposed to begin this August, however town officials were informed recently that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would not approve the funding necessary for the project to move forward as planned.

The total project cost is estimated at $2.3 million. Insurance on the Fire Department covered $635,000, town voters approved a $500,000 public bond, and in December 2011, the Town of Keene received a grant notification of $680,000 from FEMA. However, FEMA recently reduced the committed grant, leaving the Town without the necessary funding to begin the project.

The funding announced will cover the $340,000 reduction by FEMA, and add an additional $300,000 to reimburse the Keene Fire Department for the cost to acquire the new land where the firehouse will be built.