State Natural Resources Grants

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) is offering its Community Forestry Grant Program, a state-funded initiative designed to support community-based tree planting for derecho recovery. This program is rooted in the Iowa Legislature's appropriation of state infrastructure funds, specifically earmarked for urban and community forestry services. The core mission of this grant program aligns with enhancing Iowa's natural environment and aiding in the recovery of communities affected by derecho events through strategic tree planting on public lands. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are state and local government entities, schools, volunteer organizations, and service organizations actively involved with local urban and community forest services. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate the purchase and planting of trees on publicly owned lands across Iowa, contributing to environmental restoration and community resilience following natural disasters. Eligible planting areas include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries, and trails, ensuring broad community access to the benefits of reforestation. Grant priorities emphasize several key areas to maximize impact and ensure effective resource allocation. Priority will be given to projects demonstrating clear need stemming from derecho impact, cost-effectiveness through a $1 for $1 cash match, robust community involvement, alignment with Tree City/Campus/Line USA designation, and a focus on species/genera diversity and environmental impact. These priorities reflect a strategic approach to fostering sustainable urban and community forests, promoting ecological health, and encouraging local engagement in environmental stewardship. The expected outcomes of the Community Forestry Grant Program include the successful planting of a diverse range of suitable trees across publicly owned lands in Iowa. Measurable results will be tied to the number of trees planted, the extent of community involvement, and the degree to which projects address the specified priorities, particularly in derecho-affected and EAB Reforestation eligible counties. The program's strategic priorities are centered on recovery, environmental enhancement, and community engagement, working towards a theory of change where targeted tree planting leads to stronger, more resilient communities and improved ecological well-being throughout the state. The grants, ranging from $500 to $10,000, are specifically for the purchase and planting of trees, with special requests for other landscape plantings requiring detailed justification.

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant program, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), offers funding to municipalities to tackle greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at a local level. The program is designed to align with broader environmental conservation goals by fostering resilience and reducing environmental impact within New York State communities. It supports projects that either reduce GHG emissions or adapt to the changing climate, directly contributing to a more sustainable future for the state's residents and natural resources. The primary beneficiaries of this program are municipalities across New York State, including counties, cities, towns, villages, and boroughs. The grant aims to reduce risks from climate hazards and decrease GHG emissions, ultimately improving the quality of life and environmental safety for residents. The impact goals are centered on building local capacity to respond to climate change, whether through direct implementation projects or through certification activities that enhance planning and assessment capabilities. The program prioritizes projects that fall into two main categories: Implementation and Certification. Implementation projects are further divided into GHG Mitigation (e.g., reduction of vehicle miles traveled, organic waste, refrigerant management, renewable energy in low-income housing) and Climate Adaptation (reducing risks to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from changing climate hazards). Certification projects focus on assessments, inventories, and planning activities that help municipalities achieve or work towards certified Climate Smart Community status. Projects must demonstrate an ability to identify, mitigate, and/or adapt to climate change vulnerability and risk or demonstrate potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Expected outcomes include a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through various mitigation strategies and a meaningful decrease in climate-related risks for residents, infrastructure, and natural resources. For certification projects, the expected outcome is an increased local capacity to respond to climate change, leading to more informed planning and future grant applications. The grant explicitly states that implementation projects must have a minimum useful life of 10 years, ensuring long-term impact. The strategic priority is to empower local governments to take concrete actions against climate change, with a clear theory of change that by funding targeted projects and capacity-building efforts, the state can achieve significant environmental improvements and enhance community resilience.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Connecticut municipalities and regional entities to develop waste management projects that reduce solid waste and promote environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides $750,000 to Minnesota communities for projects that enhance resilience against climate impacts on stormwater, wastewater, and public health services.

The Michigan Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) offers the Environmental Justice (EJ) Impact Grant program. This program is designed to reduce environmental health burdens and impacts within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The core mission of this grant aligns with the broader goal of promoting environmental equity and public health, particularly in areas disproportionately affected by environmental issues. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are residents within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The overarching impact goal is to positively affect these residents by funding place-based and equity-focused projects. This direct focus on communities facing environmental injustice ensures that the grant addresses critical needs where they are most prevalent, aiming for tangible improvements in their living environments and health outcomes. The program prioritizes several key areas for funding. These include community improvement projects aimed at enhancing public health, initiating or expanding monitoring of background pollution levels in air, water, or soil (with air monitoring equipment classified as air quality sensors and not for regulatory use), new or improved equipment or management techniques to improve indoor air quality in schools, and the remediation/redevelopment of contaminated or blighted sites. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to environmental justice, addressing both pollution and its direct impacts on community well-being. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in public health through community projects, enhanced understanding of pollution levels via monitoring, better indoor air quality in schools, and the revitalization of environmentally degraded areas. The program has a total of $20,000,000 available, with a maximum of $500,000 per applicant. This substantial funding allows for significant, impactful projects. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribes, community-based non-profit organizations (including grassroots and frontline organizations), schools, institutions of higher education, and local governments, reflecting a strategic approach to engage diverse stakeholders in achieving environmental justice.

This program provides financial assistance to local public agencies and water suppliers in California for projects that develop new potable water supplies through desalination of brackish water and seawater.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve public health and the environment in communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental issues across Colorado.

This grant provides financial assistance to agricultural producers in 14 Texas counties who have experienced water losses due to Mexico's non-compliance with a water treaty, helping them recover from the impacts on their farming operations.

This grant provides financial support to Arizona communities and institutions recognized as Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA, or Tree Campus K-12 to enhance urban forestry efforts and improve community tree management and canopy cover.

Coastal Resilience Grant (CRG) Program Guidelines A. Purpose The CRG funding opportunity supports projects that: Build capacity, Advance planning, and Develop designs to increase coastal resilience, including community and/or habitat resilience, in one or more of New Hampshire’s Coastal Zone communities. Coastal Zone communities include: Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, and Stratham. B. Eligible Applicants and Project Categories Eligible Applicants: Coastal municipalities, Quasi-governmental organizations, Non-governmental organizations, Academic institutions, and State agencies. Preference given to lead applicant organizations with no prior CRG awards. Preferred Project Approaches: Minimize negative impacts to environmental resources. Focus on coalition-building, cultural heritage preservation, environmental justice, inclusive access, and protecting/restoring natural coastal resources. Collaboratively-develop goals, purpose, work plan, products, and outcomes. Achieve fair distribution of benefits and burdens, prioritizing those with the highest need. Eligible Project Categories: Building Capacity Projects: Increase community resilience through network building, knowledge enhancement, and resource access. Planning Projects: Develop strategic plans, assessments, or regulations to guide resilience efforts. Design Projects: Develop designs for site-specific resources/assets to increase resilience. C. Funding, Match Commitment, and Project Timeframe Funding: Total anticipated federal grant funding: ~$100,000. Request between $9,000 and $30,000 in federal grant funds per project. Federal funds cannot cover final engineering designs, permitting, construction costs, or equipment purchases exceeding $5,000. Match Commitment: Non-federal match commitment: 4:1 federal grant funds to non-federal match (cash or in-kind services). Justification for reduced or no match commitment may be provided. Project Timeframe: Duration: 12 to 18 months. Expected project start: November 2024 to January 2025. Expected project end: December 2025 to June 2026. For more details and to access the application, visit the NHDES Coastal Program website.

This program provides funding to communities for hiring independent experts to help them understand and engage in the cleanup of contaminated sites, ensuring they have the knowledge and support to advocate for their health and environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for municipalities and nonprofit organizations to implement community development projects that promote smart growth and environmental protection in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), established by Congress in 1965 and administered by the National Park Service, provides 1:1 matching financial grants to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreational areas and facilities. The program is fully funded by revenues from offshore oil and gas leases. The State of New Hampshire, through its Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, distributes these grants to eligible sub-units of government following the federal guidelines which include the development of a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and coordination by the State Liaison Officer. The 35th grant round is currently open, with Intent-to-Apply forms due by June 7, 2024. Eligible project types include development of new or existing facilities, acquisition of land for public recreation, or a combination of both. Funding requests must be between $50,000 and $500,000, with total project costs at least double the requested grant amount, as the program requires a 50% match from sponsors.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities in New York State for acquiring private forested land to create or expand community forests, enhancing public access and promoting environmental conservation.

This funding opportunity supports projects that improve the competitiveness of California's specialty crops, benefiting a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions.

This funding opportunity supports private landowners in New York State to establish new forested areas of at least five acres, promoting climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability.

Introduction EEM projects must contribute to mitigation of the environmental effects of transportation facilities. The California Natural Resources Agency (Agency) prescribes procedures and criteria to evaluate grant project proposals and submits a list of projects recommended for funding to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The CTC awards grants to projects from Agency’s list. Related Transportation Facility EEM projects must mitigate, either directly or indirectly, the environmental impacts of a) the modification of an existing Transportation Facility or b) the construction of a new Transportation Facility (hereafter Related Transportation Facility or RTF). The EEM project can be the required mitigation for the RTF or enhancement to mitigation required for the RTF. Statewide Project Goals Agency grant programs assist state and local entities to develop more sustainable communities, increase adaptability to climate change using nature-based strategies, and protect biodiversity in compliance with Executive Order N-82-20, the Pathways to 30 x 30 California, and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. Projects that demonstrate the following multiple benefits will be more competitive: • Improved air and/or water quality. • Reduced consumption of natural resources and energy. • Increased reliability of local water supplies. • Increased adaptability to climate change. • Increased protection and restoration of biodiversity Eligible Projects Examples The list below isn't comprehensive, but provides examples of project elements that meet statutory conditions. Urban Forestry: • Planting of trees and plants along urban streets and medians. • Greening existing public lands and structures, including school campuses and urban parks. • Greening vacant lots and abandoned sites. • Restoration of urban creeks. Resource Lands: • Removal of invasive and restoration of natural plant species. • Enhancement or restoration of natural areas such as inland wetlands, forests, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, creeks, and streams with riparian or riverine fish or wildlife habitat, wildlife corridors and fish passages, coastal estuaries, grazing land and grasslands. • Acquisitions in fee title or through conservation easements to safeguard regional water supplies, protect riparian and wildlife habitats, conserve agricultural lands for secure wildlife migration corridors, and provide public access for compatible wildlife/nature-oriented recreation by the wider community. • Acquisitions to preserve in perpetuity Resource Lands for agricultural uses, open space, wetlands, biodiversity, etc. Mitigation Projects Beyond the Scope of the Lead Agency: Project examples listed under Urban Forestry and Resource Lands categories may be eligible for the Mitigation Projects Beyond the Scope of the Lead Agency category, if the mitigation or enhancement measures for the RTF were infeasible or beyond the jurisdiction and/or authority of the Lead Agency for the RTF. Project Criteria Questions Applicants must choose only one project category and respond to all questions in the selected category. If a question doesn't apply to the project, indicate Not Applicable with a brief explanation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state agencies, local governments, and special purpose districts to create or improve recreational facilities in economically disadvantaged communities.

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is offering a new funding opportunity for local organizations to support water safety programming, utilizing Title V funds. This grant aims to expand efforts in protecting Hoosier families around water by developing or expanding drowning prevention activities, with a specific focus on increasing water safety among infants, children, and adolescents. The program encourages creative initiatives to address identified barriers that put children at higher risk of drowning, directly working to reduce fatalities among families in Indiana. While the exact foundation mission alignment isn't explicitly stated, the grant's focus on public health and safety aligns with a broad public health mandate. The target beneficiaries for this grant are infants, children, and adolescents in Indiana, particularly those in at-risk or vulnerable populations. The impact goals are to increase water safety and reduce drowning fatalities among these groups. Programming may include education for families, resource development and dissemination, connecting families with swim lessons, and increasing safety in various water environments such such as bathtubs, pools, retention ponds, and open water. Local organizations applying for the grant must have identified the specific barriers families encounter that contribute to higher drowning risks, and their proposed programs must directly address these barriers. The priorities and focuses of this grant include partnering with local health departments (though health departments themselves are not eligible to apply), adhering to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and IDOH, and addressing water safety barriers in at-risk or vulnerable populations. Proposed activities must be evidence-based, data-informed, or utilize promising practices to ensure effective programming. Collaboration with local community action teams and child fatality review teams is also encouraged for maximum impact. The grant specifically serves Indiana residents, and grantees must comply with financial requirements. The expected outcomes and measurable results of this grant are not explicitly detailed with specific metrics, but the overarching goal is to reduce fatalities among families by increasing water safety. By focusing on evidence-based practices and addressing identified barriers, the grant aims for tangible improvements in water safety outcomes for children and adolescents. The implicit strategic priority is public health improvement through targeted prevention efforts, and the theory of change suggests that by empowering local organizations to implement tailored drowning prevention initiatives, the IDOH can effectively mitigate risk factors and improve safety for vulnerable populations across Indiana. The project period for the budget is Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2025, indicating a short-term, impactful project cycle.

This grant program supports counties in Wisconsin that employ a professional forester as a County Forest Administrator or Assistant County Forest Administrator. It offers financial assistance up to 50% of the annual salary and fringe benefits costs for the eligible positions. Additionally, the program provides funding for up to 50% of the dues to a non-profit organization that offers counsel to the County Forest Administrator and serves as an organizational liaison for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This initiative is aimed at enhancing the management and administration of lands enrolled under the County Forest Law, promoting sustainable forest management practices, and supporting county-level forestry efforts. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: January 31st