2021 Funding Opportunities

Summary of 2021 Adaptation & Resilience Grants
Grant	Category	Amount	Match	Deadline
Climate Smart Communities (DEC)	Planning & Implementation	$50,000-$2M	50%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Water Quality Improvement Project (DEC)	Implementation	$250,000-$10M	0-25%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Non-Ag Nonpoint Source Planning & MS4 Mapping Grant Program (DEC)	Planning	$30,000-$75,000	10%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (DOS)	Planning & Implementation	No max	15-25%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Brownfield Opportunity Area Program (DOS)	Planning	$300,000	10%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Green Innovation Grant Program (EFC)	Planning & Implementation	$3M	10-25%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant (EFC)	Planning	$30,000-$100,000	20%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Parks, Preservation and Heritage (OPRHP)	Planning & Implementation	$500,000-$750,000	25-50%	7/30/21 via the CFA
Recreational Trails Program (OPRHP)	Planning & Implementation	$250,000	20%	7/30/21 via the CFA
NYS Community Development Block Grant Program (HUD)	Planning & Implementation	$50,000-$1M	5%	7/30/21 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

Department of Environmental Conservation ($79 million)

Climate Smart Communities Grant Program ($11 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA, contact: cscgrants [at] dec.ny.gov (cscgrants[at]dec[dot]ny[dot]gov), 518-402-8448

Adaptation implementation projects ($10 million)

Amount available: $50,000 and $2 million per project, 50% match, eligible adaptation project types include any project designed to provide a meaningful reduction of risk to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from hazards projected to become more severe or frequent as a result of climate change. Such projects include, but are not limited to the following:

Increasing or preserving natural resilience, such as construction of living shorelines and other nature-based landscape features to decrease vulnerability to the effects of climate change and to improve or facilitate conservation, management, and/or restoration of natural floodplain areas and/or wetland systems
Flood-risk reduction, including, but not limited to, strategic relocation or retrofit of climate-vulnerable critical municipal facilities or infrastructure to reduce future climate-change induced risks to those facilities
Replacing or right-sizing flow barriers, including, but not limited to, right-sizing bridges or culverts, or improving flow barriers to facilitate emergency response or protection of population centers, critical facilities, infrastructure, and/or natural resources, based on assessment of projected future conditions.
Extreme-heat preparation, including, but not limited to, establishment of cooling centers, construction of permanent shade structures, and implementation of other cooling features or programs
Emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to, establishment of emergency warning systems or implementation of emergency preparedness and/or response programs
Enrollment in and completion of activities that are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program.

The Village of Haverstraw received a $100,000 Climate Smart Communities grant in 2018 to update and incorporate climate resilience into their Comprehensive Plan.

Certification projects ($1 million)

Amount available: $10,000 to $100,000 per project, 50% match, eligible CSC certification actions include:

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program ($65 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA, contact: User.Water [at] dec.ny.gov, eligible projects will reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality and restore habitat in New York's waterbodies, including:

Wastewater Treatment Improvement, $1-10M max award depending on project type, 25% match, high priority projects are Wastewater Effluent Disinfection, secondary priority projects are Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)/Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and Watershed Plan Implementation, and 60% match for General Wastewater Treatment Improvements, contact Ken Kosinski, (518) 402-8110
Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control, $500,000-$3M max award depending on project type, 25% match, see contacts by project type, projects include but are not limited to:
- Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Facilities for Failing On-Site Treatment Systems, $3M max award, 25% match, contact Ken Kosinski, (518) 402-8086, Ken.Kosinski [at] dec.ny.gov
- Green Infrastructure Practice $1M max award, 25% match, contact Ryan Waldron, (518) 402-8244, Ryan.Waldron [at] dec.ny.gov
- Stormwater Retrofits, $500,000 max award, 25% match, contact Ethan Sullivan, (518) 402- 1382
- Streambank Stabilization and Riparian Buffers, $500,000 max award, 25% match, contact Julie Berlinski, (518) 402-8212
- Beach Restoration, $500,000 max award, 25% match, contact Lauren Townley, (518) 402-8283
- Culvert Repair and Replacement, $500,000 max award, 25% match, contact Julie Berlinski, (518) 402-8212
- Vacuum trucks in MS4 areas, $325,000 max award, 25% match, contact Christina Chiappetta, (518) 402-1224
Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection, $4M max award, 25% match, contact Kristin Martinez, (518) 402-8086, Kristin.Martinez [at] dec.ny.gov
Aquatic Connectivity Restoration, $250,000 max award, 25% match, contact Corbin Gosier, 518-402-8872, Corbin.Gosier [at] dec.ny.gov
Marine District Habitat Restoration, $750,000 max award, no match, contact Jared Reed, 518-402-9185

Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping Grant Program ($3 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA

Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning: $30,000 award maximum, 10% match, to fund planning ($1M) for decentralized wastewater treatment facilities, green infrastructure practice, stormwater retrofits, streambank stabilization, beach restoration, culvert repair and replacement, and more, contact: Lauren Townley, 518-402-8283, Lauren.Townley [at] dec.ny.gov (Lauren[dot]Townley[at]dec[dot]ny[dot]gov)
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping: $30,000 max award per MS4 municipality applying as a collaborative, $400,000 max award per MS4 collaborative, $75,000 max award for MS4 municipalities that must apply alone, contact: Ethan Sullivan, (518) 402-1382

Department of State ($36.25 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA, contact: NYS DOS, Office of Planning, Development & Community Infrastructure, opd [at] dos.ny.gov (opd[at]dos[dot]ny[dot]gov)

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program ($27.75 million)

No max, 25% match (15% for environmental justice communities), grants are for local governments located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways, to prepare or implement strategies for community and waterfront revitalization, eligible projects include:

Preparing or updating a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)
Preparing an LWRP Component, including a Watershed Management Plan
Updating an LWRP to Mitigate Future Physical Climate Risks
Implementing a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program or a completed LWRP Component

Brownfield Opportunity Area Program ($3.5 million)

$300,000 max award, 10% match, and option to request up to 25% of funds upfront, neighborhood-wide approach to contaminated lands and provides grants that support communities to comprehensively assess existing economic and environmental conditions associated with brownfield blight and impacted areas, identify and prioritize community supported redevelopment opportunities, and attract public and private investment. Eligible activities are:

BOA nomination: a study that includes a community vision, goals and strategies for revitalization of an area affected by a concentration of known or suspected brownfields
Pre-development activities in a State-designated BOA
- Development and implementation of marketing strategies
- Development of plans and specifications
- Real estate services
- Building conditions studies
- Infrastructure analyses
- Zoning and regulatory updates
- Environmental, housing and economic studies, analyses and reports
- Public outreach
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments within a State-Designated BOA

DEC announces $500,000 in Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grant funding is now available

Applicants may apply for planning and engineering projects for dam removal and right-sizing of culverts affecting eel or herring migration in the tidal Hudson watershed. View a map of identified and prioritized barriers on Cornell Water Resources Institute Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal webpage. The minimum grant award is $10,500; the maximum grant award is $150,000. The application deadline is May 4, 2022 at 3 p.m. For more information, please visit the Hudson River Estuary Program's Grant Funding webpage.

Learn more about the DEC grant funding.

FEMA's Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding

Applications are being accepted for both BRIC and FMA programs until January 28, 2022.

FEMA's new pre-disaster mitigation program called Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) to "support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards... The BRIC program guiding principles are supporting communities through capability- and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency." Learn more on the BRIC website.

In 2021, New York State offered over $170 million in assistance to local governments and non-profit organizations to build resilience and adapt to flooding, sea-level rise and other climate risks.

This webpage provides a brief overview of these assistance programs, including when and where to apply. Eligible activities include municipal planning, resilient infrastructure and structures, emergency management, economic revitalization, public outreach, and natural solutions like sustainable shorelines, green infrastructure and floodplain protection.

The 2021 NYS Consolidated Funding Application is now closed

New York State’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) allows communities to design comprehensive projects and with one application, apply to multiple state funding sources. You can download the 2021 CFA Resources Available Guide (PDF), sign up for informational webinars on the 2021 CFA grants and log into the CFA online. The Deadline to apply was 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021. We encourage you to review these resources and prepare for next year's grants.

Looking for a more comprehensive list of grants available to Hudson Valley communities? Visit the Local Champions HV Grants Clearinghouse

Environmental Facilities Corporation ($17.5 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA

Green Innovation Grant Program ($15 million)

$3 million max award, 10% to 25% match depending on municipal median household income, contact: 518-402-6924, GIGP [at] efc.ny.gov (GIGP[at]efc[dot]ny[dot]gov), funds green stormwater infrastructure, energy efficiency and water efficiency projects across New York State. Eligible green stormwater infrastructure project include:

Regional Green Stormwater Infrastructure projects utilize green stormwater infrastructure to restore natural landscape features, such as flood plains, riparian buffers, streams, and wetlands. These natural features provide water quality benefits and enhance watersheds, while preserving wildlife and their habitat.
Local Green Stormwater Infrastructure projects are typically located in an urban environment and consist of site and neighborhood specific practices, such as bioretention, cisterns, downspout disconnections, green roofs, green walls, permeable pavements, stormwater street trees, and urban forestry programs.

Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant ($2.5 million)

$100,000 max award, 20% match, contact: 518-402-8267, CFAWater [at] gw.dec.state.ny.us (CFAWater[at]gw[dot]dec[dot]state[dot]ny[dot]us), in cooperation with NYS DEC, offers grants for engineering and consulting services to produce engineering reports to construct or improve municipal wastewater systems:

$30,000 max award for communities with a population of 10,000 or less
$50,000 max award for communities with a population of 10,000 or more
$100,000 max award for inflow and infiltration projects based on an Order on Consent or SPDES Permit Compliance Schedule

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: ($21.4 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA, contact: Erin Drost, (845) 889-3866, erin.drost [at] parks.ny.gov (erin[dot]drost[at]parks[dot]ny[dot]gov)

Environmental Protection Fund Grants Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage ($19.5 million)

$500,000 max award ($750,000 if total project costs exceed $4M), 50% match, or 25% match for projects that are in a high-poverty district, grants fund acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas.

Recreational Trails Program ($1.9 million)

$250,000 max award, 20% required match, grants fund design, right-of-way and construction of recreational trails.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal ($26.2 million)

New York State Community Development Block Grant Program ($20 million)

Deadline: 4:00 pm, July 30, 2021 via the CFA, contact: 518-474-2057, HCR_CFA [at] nyshcr.org (HCR_CFA[at]nyshcr[dot]org), for development projects in small communities and counties:

Resilient drinking water, clean water and stormwater infrastructure projects may be applied for under Category 1: Public Infrastructure, $1M max award, $1.5M for joint applicants, 5% match
Construction and renovation projects may be applied for under Category 2: Public Facilities, $300,000 max award, 5% match
Risk assessment and engineering projects may be applied for under Category 4: Community Planning, $50,000 max award, 5% match

Empire State Development ($225M)

Empire State Development Grant Funds ($150M)

No deadline (open), contact: 845-567-4882, nys-midhudson [at] esd.ny.gov, infrastructure investment that can foster new economic development is eligible under Category 1: Strategic Community Development Investment (grant funds cover up to 25% of project soft costs).

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program

No deadline (open), $5,000-$150,000 max award, municipalities that complete four of 10 priority actions will be considered Clean Energy Communities (CEC). Locally based outreach and implementation coordinators will provide free, on-demand technical assistance, including step-by-step guidance, case studies, and template contracts to help municipalities implement the Climate Smart Communities and Clean Energy Communities programs. You can view open CEC grants online, contact: cec [at] nyserda.ny.gov (cec[at]nyserda[dot]ny[dot]gov)

Previous grant opportunities

Hudson River Estuary Program grants ($750,000)

2021 applications period is over (3 pm on June 2nd, 2021 via the NYS Grants Gateway, contact: HREPGrants [at] dec.ny.gov (HREPGrants[at]dec[dot]ny[dot]gov))

Local Stewardship Planning grants

Amount available: $10,500 to $50,000 per project, 15% match, eligible projects will advance four categories of projects and programs through planning, feasibility studies, and/or design:

Hudson River shoreline communities to adapt land uses and decision-making to factor in climate change, flooding, heat, drought, and sea-level rise projections
Making water infrastructure more resilient to flooding and/or sea-level rise
Watershed and source water management planning
Conservation of natural resources by creating a natural resources inventory, open space inventory/index, open space plan, conservation overlay zone, open space funding feasibility study, or connectivity plan

Click here to download the full Local Stewardship Planning RFP (PDF).

River Access grants

Amount available: $10,500 to $50,000 per project, 15% match, eligible projects will provide new or improved accessibility at new or existing access sites for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-dependent recreation along the shoreline of the Hudson estuary, including the tidal portion of its tributaries.

River Education grants

Amount available: $10,500 to $40,000 per project, 15% match, eligible projects will enhance education about the estuary along the tidal waters of the Hudson and make opportunities to learn about the Hudson River Estuary more accessible. The funding may be used to design, equip and/or construct educational facilities (including signage, exhibits, and river-focused art installations), support development of plans* or curriculum, purchase of equipment, and/or development of web sites or mobile phone apps.

Additional sources of funding assistance

In 2019, there were over 15 state and public grant and loan programs totaling over $150 million to help support projects related to climate resilience in your community. You can download our 2019 Financing Waterfront Resilience fact sheet (PDF) and visit our page on green infrastructure funding programs to read helpful summaries and comparisons of these programs. Many of these programs are lumped into the NYS Consolidated Funding Application which is typically due in late July. Now is good time to start preparing for the next round.