Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that $2.9 million in grants have been awarded to help local municipalities and community organizations support and strengthen New York’s military installations in the face of looming defense cuts in congress.

The military base retention grants are a part of the state's efforts to safeguard New York’s National Guard capabilities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and to protect the economic and employment opportunities that major military facilities provide across the state. Service members from each of New York’s air bases were deployed during the storm.

New York State’s military installations continue to be threatened by federal budgetary constraints. The grants announced will help promote, enhance and protect New York’s bases. State military bases account for more than 10,000 direct jobs with direct wages of $688 million and $1.9 billion of economic impact.

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