LITTLE, VALLEY, N.Y. — A village in Cattaraugus County is trying to make a big difference when it comes to climate change.

Little Valley's Board of Trustees is pledging to take action this year, after receiving a $20,000 state grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The money is part of an $11 million investment to local municipalities across New York in Climate Smart Community projects.

"It means a lot to our small village because it's a project we wouldn't be able to undertake without the funding for the DEC," said Mayor Jim Bowen.

Village leaders are matching that $20,000 and have hired an engineering firm to develop a comprehensive plan that will document village assets and outline a number of recommended environmental projects.

"And it is a meaningful amount to us. It would take a few more years to figure out how to fund it, if we weren't able to get this grant," Mayor Bowen said.

"I think it's essential," said Dazzle Ekblad, DEC climate policy analyst. "Mainly because they do not have a comprehensive plan. The community has never really come together and thought about its future and developed a vision for itself."

DEC climate leaders say part of the vision will address severe weather, help mitigate future flooding and replace aging infrastructure. It'll also fulfill a desire to help village residents age in place.

"And be sure that their housing stock and their infrastructure could enable citizens to continue to live there through this time of climate change," Ekblad said.

Little Valley joins dozens of communities across the state that were awarded grants this year. Since 2016, hundreds of communities have shared thousands of dollars with of grants, with the exception of 2020 because of the pandemic.

All part of an agenda outlined in the state's climate act passed in 2019.

"So, this is a transformation in New York State that we cannot do alone," said Ekblad "This is not something New York state can just simply say it will happen and it will happen. We need these local partnerships. We need multiplicities like the village of Little Valley."

Mayor Bowen says projects atop his list include upgrading the village drinking water system to keep residents safe.

"It's just old and hasn't been updated," Bowen said. "It's a very important project to undertake. And our drinking water is okay, but it definitely has some flaws. We know that they're out there and we want to get ahead of it."

The village hopes to have its comprehensive plan together by the end of summer.

The DEC is already looking ahead to next year. Any municipality across the state interested in applying for a state climate grant, or serving as a climate-smart community, can find more information by clicking here.