Funding Climate Adaptation & Resilience

DEC announces $2.15 million in grants for Hudson River Estuary Communities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced $2.15 million in competitive grant funding is now available to help communities in the Hudson River Estuary watershed restore free-flowing waters, increase resiliency to flooding, protect water quality, fish, and wildlife habitat, and improve recreational access and education for all, including people with disabilities and New Yorkers living in communities historically and disproportionately overburdened by environmental pollution.

Four types of grant opportunities are available through four Requests for Applications (RFAs):

Local Stewardship Planning available funding increased ($10,500-75,000)
River Access ($10,500-75,000)
Tributary Restoration & Resiliency ($10,500-$150,000)
River Education ($20,000-100,000).

The deadline for all applications is July 12, 2023, at 3 p.m. These RFAs are only available online through the NYS Grants Gateway (leaves DEC website). The Grants Gateway is a web-based grant management system that streamlines how grants are administered by the State.

Learn more about the grants

Funding Opportunities


Grant	Category	Amount	Match	Deadline
Climate Smart Communities (DEC)	Planning & Implementation	$10,000-$200,000	50%	via the CFA
Water Quality Improvement Project (DEC)	Implementation	$75M	25-50%	via the CFA
Non-Ag Nonpoint Source Planning & MS4 Mapping Grant Program (DEC)	Planning	$30,000-$75,000	10%	via the CFA
L ocal Waterfront Revitalization Program (DOS)	Planning & Implementation	No max	15-25%	via the CFA
Brownfield Opportunity Area Program (DOS)	Planning	$300,000	10%	via the CFA
Green Innovation Grant Program (EFC)	Planning & Implementation	$3M	10-25%	via the CFA
Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant (EFC)	Planning	$30,000-$100,000	20%	via the CFA
Parks, Preservation and Heritage (OPRHP)	Planning & Implementation	$500,000-$750,000	25-50%	via the CFA
Recreational Trails Program (OPRHP)	Planning & Implementation	$250,000	20%	via the CFA
NYS Community Development Block Grant Program (HUD)	Planning & Implementation	$50,000-$1M	5%	via the CFA
Empire State Development Grant Funds	Implementation	No max	75% for soft costs	Open
Clean Energy Communities grants (NYSERDA)	Planning & Implementation	$5,000-$150,000	N/A	Open

NYSDEC Funding Finder Tool

The tool enables grant seekers to filter grant opportunities based on criteria that meets their specific needs. Funding Finder Tool

Partners for Climate Action's Climate and Environmental Grants

A collection of grant opportunities gathered for the Local Champions Pilot by Jill Henck and Haley Balcanoff of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, Dazzle Ekblad of the DEC's Office of Climate Change, and Partners for Climate Action's intern Iris Burbank.

NY-NY Harbor and Estuary Program Grants

Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, HEP now has several grant programs that are open.

Building Capacity for Climate Resiliency: these grants support disadvantaged communities seeking to advance research, planning and/or infrastructure projects that will help build climate resiliency while addressing water quality and related management issues in those communities. A total of $400,000 is available under this request for proposals (RFP). HEP anticipates distributing funds through four to eight grants for projects that can be completed no later than June 30, 2025. A one-page letter of inquiry is due June 1, 2023. A webinar reviewing the content of this RFP is scheduled for May 1, 2023. Read more here.
Advancing Habitat Restoration in Disadvantaged Communities: These grants support enhancement of sites recognized in the Hudson Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan (HRE CRP) or similar community-supported plans that are located in, and serve residents of, a disadvantaged community. A total of $200,000 is available under this request for proposals (RFP). HEP anticipates distributing funds through two to four grants for projects that can be completed no later than September 2025. An initial one-page letter of inquiry is due May 5, 2023. Read more here.