New York grants for County governments

The Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) administers a portion of New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program. This program, funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, aims to enhance, grow, and improve the mid-channel of the food supply chain within New York State. The overarching mission alignment is to expand each state’s middle-chain capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products, excluding meat, poultry, cannabis, animal food and forage, fiber, and wild-caught seafood. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are New York State agricultural producers, processors, groups of producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that bring producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment for middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. The impact goals are to increase the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York and regional markets, benefit multiple producers and markets, and support the development of new value-added products. The program prioritizes infrastructure development to expand business capacity for processing, aggregation, storage, and distribution. Specific focuses include targeting infrastructure projects to the dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic industries. Another key priority is to create greater market access to intermediaries like food hubs, aggregators, wholesalers, and distributors, with the goal of increasing local food sales to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Expected outcomes include expanded processing capacities, modernized equipment and facilities, increased packaging and labeling capabilities, enhanced worker safety, and greater storage space, including cold storage. The program also seeks to develop and install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases water use efficiency, and improves air/water quality. Measurable results would involve an increase in New York-sourced food products in local markets, a greater number of businesses with expanded processing and distribution capacities, and an increase in local food sales to institutions, ultimately strengthening the resilience and efficiency of the state's food supply chain.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund offers grants up to $25,000 for collaborative rural community projects in selected states and counties, prioritizing initiatives that involve diverse community participation, demonstrate local support, and aim for positive change within 18 months.

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

This funding opportunity provides financial support for solar and storage projects that benefit low- to moderate-income households in affordable housing across New York, helping to overcome barriers and promote equitable access to renewable energy.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is offering grants to local governments and Soil and Water Conservation Districts to assist in the initial planning of non-agricultural nonpoint source water quality improvement projects. The grants are also available for regulated MS4 Operators for mapping. The program supports projects like upgrading wastewater treatment systems and streambank stabilization. Applicants seeking planning grants for wastewater treatment systems should refer to the NYS DEC/EFC Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant Program. The program also focuses on projects affecting environmental justice and disadvantaged communities, and includes a variety of eligible report categories such as green infrastructure, stormwater retrofits, and stream culvert repair.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government entities in New York State for projects that protect and restore stream corridors, promoting ecological health and community engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities in New York State for developing or expanding food scraps recycling programs to promote sustainable waste management and reduce landfill waste.

This program supports climate technology innovators in New York State by providing mentorship and resources to help scale hardware solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote decarbonization.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in New York to deliver essential work readiness training for individuals facing employment barriers, helping them develop the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) invites applications from not-for-profit and for-profit providers for the development and operation of Community Based Residential Programs (CBRP) for individuals under Community Supervision. The CBRP is a housing initiative to assist parolees under the jurisdiction of DOCCS to attain stability in the community while providing for individual case needs and community safety. CBRPs provide food, counseling, and other services such as substance abuse treatment, educational/vocational training, mental health and social services to residents either directly or through referral to credentialed providers. (Note: a CBRP is not to be confused with Substance Use Residential Treatment Programs). To be eligible for an award, programs must have a current and valid Certificate of Occupancy (COO). For initial award, applicants must have the demonstrated ability to start the program on October 1, 2022, or upon approval by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC). An approved site visit may be required by DOCCS within 10-days of a tentative contract award notification by the Commissioner.The components of this RFA are as follows:A CBRP provides a structured setting and services for a period of up to 120-days, withextensions available upon approval of DOCCS’ Re-Entry Contract Manager, to thefollowing client groups:Client Group A: Newly released parolees from state or local correctional facilities who do not have an acceptable residence.Client Group B: Parolees who require increased supervision and structure in order to change behavior patterns which, given case circumstances, may otherwise lead to re-incarceration; and/orrequire removal from their current living environment due to crisis situations or need for temporary housing.Client Group C: Parolees with mental health, physical and/or medical concerns.Client Group D: Parolees who have a history of sex offense(s) and/or arson.Many of the parolees have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, unemployment, health concerns, and substandard housing. They are released from state or local incarceration after convictions for offenses for which they continue to serve a sentence that was imposed by a local County Court. They generally are returning to the communities where they were residing at the time of their arrest.DOCCS reserves the right to award more than one contract for a Catchment Area based on the need for residential programs that include Client Group D. DOCCS seeks to establish Community Based Residential Programs throughout New York State under the following general provisions and designated Catchment areas as listed in RFA 2021-02.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to volunteer fire departments, municipalities, and nonprofit EMS organizations in New York State to improve recruitment and retention efforts for emergency service personnel.

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 is designed to create a standardized training program for coroners, medical examiners, and death investigators in New York State to improve their skills and knowledge in line with national standards.

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.

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.

The Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative aims to strengthen regional economies by investing in energy resilience through research and planning grants, and implementation grants. The initiative focuses on establishing a regional energy hub for natural gas and natural gas liquids, including hydrogen production. Eligible applicants include local development districts, Indian Tribes, states, counties, cities, and higher education institutions, among others. The total funding available is $5 million, with a grant proposal due by July 24, 2024.

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.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to rural health providers in New York to create and sustain collaborative networks that improve healthcare access and services for residents in rural areas.

This program provides financial support to new farmers in New York State to help them establish and grow sustainable agricultural businesses.