Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and represents a significant state-level investment in advancing climate mitigation and adaptation efforts among local governments. The program is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund and the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, reflecting New York’s broader statutory commitment to addressing climate change through Environmental Conservation Law Article 54. The program is competitive and structured to support municipalities in both planning for and implementing climate-related projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. The primary purpose of the program is to assist local governments in completing projects that either advance Climate Smart Communities certification or directly implement climate solutions. Funding is divided into two main categories: certification projects and implementation projects. Certification projects focus on planning, assessments, inventories, and policy development aligned with specific Climate Smart Communities actions. Implementation projects include greenhouse gas mitigation, climate adaptation, and feasibility or engineering studies. These may involve infrastructure improvements, renewable energy deployment, flood risk reduction, natural resilience projects, or planning efforts that prepare projects for construction readiness. Funding covers up to 80 percent of eligible project costs and operates on a reimbursement basis. Eligible expenses include personnel, contractual services, equipment, supplies, and in some cases land acquisition. Local match requirements generally range from 20 percent to 50 percent depending on factors such as median household income, environmental stress designation, or whether the project is located in a disadvantaged community. The program emphasizes equitable investment, with scoring advantages and reduced match requirements for disadvantaged or high-need communities. Eligibility is limited primarily to local governmental entities within New York State, including cities, towns, villages, counties, Indian Nations, and certain local public authorities or benefit corporations. While non-municipal entities such as nonprofits and school districts are not eligible applicants, they may participate as project partners under an eligible municipal lead. Applicants must be registered in the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System and must demonstrate proper authorization, ownership or access to project sites, and the ability to complete projects within the defined contract period. Applications must be submitted through the Consolidated Funding Application portal and include a detailed work plan, budget, and multiple required certifications and forms, including sexual harassment prevention, gender-based violence prevention, and Executive Order compliance documentation. Additional requirements may include municipal resolutions or authorization letters, landowner agreements, and partnership documentation. Projects are evaluated through a structured scoring process that considers factors such as project criticality, effectiveness, readiness, cost reasonableness, and benefits to disadvantaged communities. The 2026 funding round is currently open, with applications due by July 31, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An informational webinar is scheduled for July 8, 2026, and a series of regional workshops were held in June 2026 to support applicants. The program includes a formal question-and-answer period that concludes prior to the application deadline, after which responses are published. Awards are expected following a competitive review process, and funded projects will operate under contracts beginning March 15, 2027, with a five-year performance period ending March 14, 2032. The program is recurring and has been offered in multiple rounds, indicating continued future funding opportunities.

Ensure alignment between work plan and budget; clearly quantify climate benefits; verify correct match calculation; include all required documentation to avoid ineligibility