2021 Round of Climate Smart Communities Grant Program Now Open!

The DEC's Climate Smart Communities Grant program provides competitive, 50/50 matching grants for local governments to implement projects focused on climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation in the non-power sector. Project types also include certain planning and assessment projects that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities Certification. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on July 30, 2021.

Funding Available. Up to $10 million is available for grants of between $50,000 and $2,000,000 for implementation projects related to the following initiatives:

• Increasing natural resiliency to the effects of climate change
• Reducing future flood-risk, including by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure
• Rightsizing culverts and bridges
• Preparing for extreme heat events and improving emergency preparedness
• Completing activities that are part of the FEMA Community Rating System
• Reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
• Facilitating food scraps recycling at municipal facilities
• Reducing landfill methane leakage from landfills
• Reducing hydrofluorocarbon emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment

In addition, $1,000,000 is available for grants between $10,000 and $100,000 for certain certification actions. This year, there are 16 specific certification actions that are eligible for funding. These 16 actions are planning, inventory and assessment projects that are aligned with certain Climate Smart Communities Certification actions in the areas of greenhouse gas mitigation, transportation, climate adaptation, and land use.

Eligible Applicants. Any city, town, village, or county of the State of New York is eligible to apply, including New York City boroughs. An applicant does not have to be a registered or certified Climate Smart Community to be eligible for a grant. Applications from participating communities will, however, receive points in the competitive scoring criteria.

Request for Applications (RFA). The RFA is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/109181.html#CSC . Applicants must read the entire RFA for complete details on the program, including information on eligible and ineligible expenses and application evaluation and scoring.

Application Process. Apply for the Climate Smart Communities Grant program through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), available online at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/ . Hand-delivered, facsimile, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. In addition to the application portal, information on other state grant opportunities, instructions for applicants, and a schedule of statewide application workshops are available at the CFA website.

Applications are due by 4:00 pm on July 30, 2021. Applications will not be accepted after this date and time.

Questions? Email DEC's Office of Climate Change at cscgrants@dec.ny.gov.