Ronkonkoma Hub Project Gets $1m From State

New York State has just announced it is releasing $1.05 million in grant money to the Ronkonkoma Hub project for its massive sewer system, a requirement of the transit-oriented development project.

The massive project, which aims to develop the acreage around the Ronkonkoma LIRR train station into retail and residential units, received the grant from the Regional Economic Development Council last month, according to Newsday.

The money is slated to be used specifically for the project's sewage treatment plant which will reside on the Brookhaven side of the plans. According to Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, who spoke with Newsday, the sewage treatment plant is a vital part of the entire Ronkonkoma Hub project.

“Sewers allow us to do the kind of construction that is necessary for the development of the Hub," Romaine stated in the article. "Without sewers we could not move forward — without sewers we couldn’t do this project.”

Tom Newman, owner of World's Gym near the LIRR station and a board member of the MacArthur Business Alliance, spoke enthusiastically of the grant. 

"Public investment in a regional sewer system is money well spent," Newman stated in an email to Patch."Sewers will increase the productive capacity of this area surrounding the Ronkonkoma Station and exert an extremely positive impact on the local economy. The proposed sewage treatment plant will also create many much needed jobs for the community."

Meanwhile, representatives from TRITEC, the company charged with developing the region, will be joined by Brookhaven officials to present an update before the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce on January 24 at Windows on the Lake in Lake Ronkonkoma. Sachem Patch will have coverage of that meeting when it occurs.

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