WASHINGTON - Congressman Maurice Hinchey announced that he has helped secure a $1.36 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency for the Village of Woodridge to replace its wastewater treatment plant and to make other sewer system upgrades.

Hinchey has now helped to secure more than $4.3 million in federal funding for the project, which is scheduled for construction in September or October. 

The village received preferential consideration for its application because of its location in the Sullivan-Wawarsing Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone, a special USDA designation for the area that Hinchey established in 1999. 

"These funds are absolutely critical for the Village of Woodridge as it works to replace its failing wastewater treatment facility with a new one that will work properly," Hinchey said. "Sullivan County's designation as a REAP Zone has once again paid off in the form of the Village of Woodridge receiving this additional federal funding as the result of special consideration from USDA Rural Development under the federal designation.  These funds will help relieve the financial burden on local residents as the village moves forward with constructing this new wastewater treatment plant."