NORWICH – Local highway departments are getting a boost through a new state initiative implemented to improve New York roadways.

Last month, the Chenango County Board of Supervisors appropriated $485,840 to the county Department of Public Works for the purchase of equipment and for maintenance of the county’s 308 centerline miles of roadways.

Money comes by way of New York’s PAVE NY program, a new program administered by the Department of Transportation as part of a $21.1 billion five-year capital plan.

In June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that $100 million has been awarded to nearly 1,600 municipalities throughout the state to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of local highways and roads.