The City Council Tuesday accepted a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to the City in the amount of $508,500 through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) for the Engineering and design plans for the sewer separation of the Chicopee Center and Chicopee Falls (Broadway/Cochran) drainage area.

“These funds will be utilized to offset the expenses for design engineering and construction service management on our current sewer separation project on Hampden Street and Cochran Street,” said DPW Superintendent Jeff Neece. “This in turn will help in controlling the sewer rates on these federally mandated projects that separate our sewer and storm water.”

“We continue to address the federally mandated sewer separation project,” said Mayor Kos. “These grant funds are tremendously important to the City as it helps limit the impact on rate payers. We greatly appreciate the continued commitment from MassDEP and our legislative delegation.”

It is anticipated the City will receive an additional $16,500 from this grant in the near future.