State Environment Grants

The Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) grant program is designed to support local and tribal governments in implementing automated online solar permitting software, such as SolarAPP+ or Symbium. This innovative software streamlines the solar permitting process by instantly verifying the code compliance of solar systems and issuing permits. By reducing staff processing time, the APPS program aims to enhance the efficiency of solar installations, allowing Coloradans to quickly benefit from their rooftop solar investments. The program has allocated a total of $1 million in grants, available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no matching requirement from recipients. The grant covers various costs associated with adopting automated permitting software, including in-house staff time, training, IT or consultant services, and maintenance or subscription costs for up to three years. The application period opens on April 2, 2024, and closes on June 4, 2024, with program funding available until June 30, 2028, or until expended.

This funding opportunity supports Ohio-based government agencies, nonprofits, and research institutions in projects that protect and restore Lake Erie and its watershed, focusing on ecological health and sustainability.

The General Appropriation Act of 2020 (1A of 2020) and the Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2020 (Act 17A of 2020) together appropriated a combined total of $5,000,000 to establish the State Facility Closure Transition Program (SFCTP). The SFCTP is intended to ensure adequate community support following the closure of commonwealth facilities in directly impacted and contiguous counties. Financial Info: The General Appropriation Act of 2020 (1A of 2020) and the Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2020 (Act 17A of 2020) together appropriated a combined total of $5,000,000 to establish the State Facility Closure Transition Program (SFCTP). The SFCTP is intended to ensure adequate community support following the closure of commonwealth facilities in directly impacted and contiguous counties.

The purpose of this program is to support projects that will treat invasive plant infestations that threaten forested, woodland, or rangeland areas. The theme for the FY 2024 funding cycle is grasses and grasslands. Projects may occur on state, federal, tribal, and private lands in Arizona.  This program focuses on the prevention, control/removal, and eradication of invasive plants and aims to achieve the following objectives: Target and treat invasive plants that are capable of transforming native plant communities in forests, woodlands, deserts, or rangeland Assist in preventing fire and flooding, conserving water, and restoring habitat to wildlife Use an integrated weed management (IWM) approach when treating areas infested with invasive plants through the utilization of available tools, including manual, cultural, mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods Examples of eligible projects include: Control/removal or eradication of invasive plants Replacement of invasive plants with native plants through reseeding and planting Removal of woody invasive plant slash by mulching or grinding Examples of eligible costs include those in the following categories: Administrative labor Project labor Fringe benefits Travel Equipment Supplies Contractual Financial Notes: Match Notes: Applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the total project costs via cash and/or in-kind contributions. Priority may be given to projects that provide a higher-than-required match amount, not to exceed 50 percent. Specifically allowable matching contributions include: Cash paid by award recipients In-kind expenses, including necessary costs incurred by award recipients or other organizations to support the project Volunteer hours at a reasonable rate Donated labor and/or equipment necessary to complete the specific project Physical work performed by individual landowners on their own property Funding Notes: A total of $970,000 is available to support awards ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 through this program. Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis. Awards are expected to be issued in fall and winter 2024/2025. Specifically, award announcements are expected around October 2024. Proposed projects should be ready for implementation upon receipt of award and should be fully achievable within the prescribed award period. Projects must be considered shovel-ready. Funds may not be used for: Research and development projects Website, geographic information system (GIS), and database projects Projects that only include assessment activity and no related treatment of invasive plants Projects that include purchase of capital equipment valued at over $5,000 per item Expenses incurred prior to execution of a formal written agreement between the funding agency and the award recipient Reimbursement of physical work performed by individual landowners on their own property Food or beverage purchases

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations and local government units in the Bronx and Manhattan to deliver mobile outreach services focused on harm reduction for individuals who use drugs and face barriers to care.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California colleges and universities to engage students in paid community service that addresses local needs in education, food security, and climate action while promoting civic leadership.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that advance the conservation of California's coastal waters, particularly benefiting local agencies, universities, nonprofits, and Native American tribes.

This program provides funding to tribal communities in Montana for forestry projects that enhance green spaces, improve air and water quality, and support cultural practices and climate resilience.

PLEASE READ: This program is NOT for flooding damage. This program is only available for infrastructure that was damaged from fires or fire suppression activities that occurred on or after July 1, 2020. For questions regarding post-wildfire flooding damage, please contact your local County Emergency Management office. PLEASE READ: Private landowners are only eligible to receive financial assistance if they work through an eligible applicant: Eligible applicants include Governmental organizations (including state, county, and local), 501(c) non-profit organizations, and Indian Tribes. The State of Arizona through the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) invites proposals from Arizona public and private landowners for emergency repairs for infrastructure damaged by fires or fire suppression activities occurring July 1, 2020 and after. The Post-Wildfire Infrastructure Assistance Program goal is to assist in infrastructure repairs to physical systems, operational structures and facilities needed for the use of urban, rural, agricultural, cultural and natural resources.

This program provides funding to local governments and eligible entities in Minnesota to install solar energy systems on public buildings, promoting clean energy and cost savings.

The Village Safe Water (VSW) Program in Alaska outlines a clear process for communities seeking funding for water and sewer improvement projects. Eligibility is determined based on community type and the existence of an approved Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) or Technical Memorandum. All applications must be linked to a specific project in the Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) and, for first-time piped service projects, must include an approved Sustainability Plan. The application process involves submitting a community letter requesting the project, indicating the name and cost, and either mailing or emailing the completed application package by 11:59 p.m. on May 3, 2024. Project funding becomes available in Fall 2024, with the expectation that projects will be completed by Fall 2029.

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) is seeking project proposals that: (1)   Address one or more of the EMC’s Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions and; (2)   Address natural resource protection issues that are important for California forestlands. The critical monitoring questions are organized under 12 Research Themes. Four prioritized critical questions were determined by vote amongst the current EMC members at the beginning of each calendar year:  Are the FPRs and associated regulations effective in...  Question 1h: managing WLPZs to reduce or minimize potential fire behavior and rate of spread? Question 6c:  managing fuel loads, vegetation patterns and fuel breaks for fire hazard reduction? Question 6d: managing forest structure and stocking standards to promote wildfire resilience? Question 12a: improving overall forest wildfire resilience and the ability of forests to respond to climate change (e.g., in response to drought or bark beetle; reducing plant water stress) and variability, and extreme weather events (evaluate ecosystem functional response to fuel reduction and forest health treatments)? I.       FUNDING AVAILABILITY. Funding available for newly proposed projects is anticipated as follows: $973,392 over three FYs beginning in 2024/25, comprising: $173,232 in FY 2024/25; $375,160 in FY 2025/26; and $425,000 in FY 2025/26. II.     AWARD LIMITATIONS. Applicants requesting more than the stated annual amount available for funding will not be considered. In the case that EMC funding for the full three years is awarded to one new project, project solicitation may not occur in the subsequent two FYs. While the EMC may choose to fund projects that span multiple FYs up to the annual funding cap, the EMC generally prefers to fund multiple research projects annually. Proposers should keep this in mind when developing their project and annual budget requests. Longer-term projects (greater than three years) may re-apply for funding for additional years through the competitive grants process advertised in the EMC’s Request for Proposals. Annual allocations are dependent upon demonstrated progress towards project completion pursuant to the project schedule and workplan.  a.      ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. Eligible projects will test one or more specific FPRs or other rule or regulation under the Board’s jurisdiction and which addresses one or more of the EMC’s Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions. Proposed projects must clearly apply to management activities on private timberlands in California. Projects on public land may be eligible for EMC funding provided they clearly apply to the activities and systems that also exist on non-federal timberland. b.      ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS. Eligible applicants are local, state, and federal agencies including federal land management agencies; institutions of higher education; special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports); Native American tribes; private landowners; for-profit entities; and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.

The Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants program, offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, aims to support the repair, removal, or replacement of trees within urban areas that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events. A catastrophic storm is defined as damage to urban forests caused by snow, ice, hail, wind, or tornado, for which the governor has declared a state of emergency. This grant is not for damage resulting from insect infestation, disease, forest fire, drought, or flooding. The program's core objective is to aid communities in recovering and restoring their urban forests after severe weather. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes, and 501(c)(3) organizations in Wisconsin that have experienced damage to their urban forests as a direct result of a declared catastrophic storm event. Private property owners are not eligible for this funding. A key eligibility criterion is that the urban forest damage must have occurred in an area with a minimum of 100 residents per square mile, as determined by the Wisconsin Demographic Services Center based on U.S. Census Bureau data. The impact goal is to assist these eligible entities in mitigating the visual, ecological, and safety hazards posed by storm-damaged trees, thereby contributing to the resilience and health of urban environments. The grant prioritizes costs directly related to damaged tree repair, removal, or replacement within the geographic area covered by the state of emergency. Eligible costs include regular wages and fringe benefits for personnel working on tree-related tasks, as well as expenses for services, supplies, equipment, or facilities used for these activities. Overtime costs are not eligible, and any costs reimbursed by other funding sources, such as federal disaster assistance or insurance, are also excluded. The focus is on documented, reasonable, and necessary expenditures directly stemming from the catastrophic storm. Expected outcomes include the restoration of damaged urban tree canopies, improved public safety through the removal of hazardous trees, and the enhancement of urban environmental quality. Measurable results would involve the number of trees repaired, removed, or replaced, the total acreage of urban forest impacted by grant activities, and the financial investment made in urban forest recovery efforts. The grant's duration is one year, with individual grants ranging from $4,000 to $50,000, providing immediate support for post-storm recovery.

This grant provides funding for projects in California that utilize tire-derived aggregate for various applications, such as retaining walls, stormwater management, and landfill enhancements, aimed at promoting sustainable waste tire recycling.

This grant provides funding to local governments and nonprofit organizations for projects that restore and enhance urban forested areas and riparian corridors, focusing on improving ecosystem health and resilience.

This program provides funding to various organizations and individuals in New York State for forestry projects that promote environmental sustainability and improve forest health.

Aimed at supporting the acquisition, development, and maintenance of carry-in boat launches, this grant opportunity is offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands. It seeks to enhance public access to Maine's waterways for carry-in recreational boating. A key requirement for project eligibility is a pre-approval site inspection by state staff. The funding cap for eligible carry-in project costs is $25,000.

The Federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant Program provides annual matching federal grants to support the purchase, installation, repair/upgrade, operation, and maintenance of recreational vessel marine sanitation facilities (pumpout facilities) and pumpout vessels in Connecticut. The program aims to improve water quality by increasing the availability of proper waste handling facilities for boaters, thereby reducing the discharge of poorly treated or untreated sanitary wastes into Long Island Sound and its harbors. Eligible applicants include public and private marinas, yacht clubs, boatyards, municipal and state-owned facilities, and pumpout vessel programs. Grants cover up to 75% of project costs, requiring a 25% match from grantees. Approximately $1 million is available annually. Grant renewed every year.

The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program, established by Public Act 102-0662, is intended to provide grants of up to $1 million promoting renewable energy1 and energy efficiency2 projects that will accomplish any or all of the following: • Provide benefits to low-income communities wherein at least 50% of projected energy produced or saved benefits low-income households3 or not-for-profit organizations providing services to low-income households, affordable housing owners, or community-based businesses providing services to low-income households; • Invest in equity investment eligible communities (defined below); • Provide on-the-job training; • Support contractors who are participating in or have demonstrated an intent to participate in the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program and the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program (when operational