KEENE — The Town of Keene was awarded $3.1 million in federal stimulus funding Thursday for water infrastructure.

The amount represents a significant portion of the $5.2 million needed for a new water-distribution and storage system in Keene Water District 2, which serves the hamlet of Keene Valley.

The funding was among $143 million awarded late Thursday by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak.

Keene Town Supervisor Bill Ferebee traveled to the capital region early Friday and deferred comment until after the award is final and in hand.

But Congressman Scott Murphy (D-NY) acclaimed the funding in a statement, saying it will help create jobs in this region.

“This critical investment will create the infrastructure to allow private sector and small businesses to grow and help place our communities, our state and our country on a path towards economic recovery.”

Ten projects in New York were among 60 nationwide to receive funds Thursday, all for either water or sewer infrastructure.

Other New York towns included in this round of awards were Madrid, Hastings and Darien.

Many towns throughout the North Country have applied for water and sewer grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, most of which is being disseminated through the State Environmental Facilities Corp.

Gov. David A. Paterson said this week that every firm the state hires with stimulus funds is required to post any jobs it creates to the New York State Job Bank, accessed online at www.labor.ny.gov.

Paterson directed state agencies to work with companies hired to ensure the jobs are posted.

“Government should make job hunting for publicly financed work as simple and streamlined as we can,” he said in a statement.

“I am asking our state agencies to make job posting as real time as possible. Getting our economy moving again is my highest priority, and the best way to do this is to help people move from collecting unemployment checks to collecting paychecks.”

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