Community and Municipal Opportunities

Charge Ready NY 2.0 - This program offers incentives to public, private and not-for-profit organizations that install Level 2 EV charging stations at workplaces, multi-unit dwellings (MUD’s) or public facilities that are owned and operated by municipal or state government entities. NYSERDA provides incentives on a per-port basis at varying amounts, based on location type and whether or not is it located within a Disadvantaged Community (DAC):

• $4,000 per charging port installed at a public facility (must be located within a DAC)
• $2,000 per charging port installed at a workplace or multi-unit dwelling location.

NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program – Helps county, city, town, or village governments identify and implement high-impact actions that save energy, cut costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By achieving Clean Energy Communities designation, participants qualify for grants for additional clean energy projects. With this additional $25 million in funding, NYSERDA is expanding offerings to include more eligible project options and incentives as well as updating the program’s point system for high impact actions. Projects located in a New York State disadvantaged community can qualify for an additional 50 percent in funding for grants over $5,000.

NYSERDA Carbon Neutral Community Education Development Program - Incentives are available to support economic development projects on Long Island for projects that are designed to carbon neutral net or zero energy performance. NYSERDA Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program supports projects under the following categories:

• Category A: Carbon Neutral Facilities (design and construction)
• Category B: Carbon Neutral Communities (planning).

Awards range up to $2 million and are traditionally awarded through the Consolidated Funding Application opening in May and closing at the end of July.

EPA Community Change Grants – The EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced funding for approximately $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds have been made available in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. Investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input and are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) – Launched by WE ACT for Environmental Justice in New York and New Jersey, this center will help underserved communities gain access to grant and funding opportunities to advance environmental justice issues and offers training and technical assistance to build capacity for navigating grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, effectively managing grants, and engaging in environmental and energy justice decision-making.

Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) - Through the Governor's Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process, GIGP supports projects across New York State that utilize unique EPA-designated green stormwater infrastructure design and create cutting-edge green technologies. Competitive grants are awarded annually to projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of one or more of the following green practices: green stormwater infrastructure, energy efficiency, water efficiency and environmental innovation. Awards range up to $3 million and are traditionally awarded through the Consolidated Funding Application, opening in May and closing at the end of July.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grants - Provides 50/50 matching grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York for eligible climate change mitigation, adaptation, and planning and assessment projects. The program also supports mitigation implementation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (transportation, refrigerants, food waste, etc.) and adaptation implementation projects (cooling centers, flood plain restoration, emergency preparedness, etc.) that directly address climate change threats or alleviate hazards in the community exacerbated by climate changes. A total of $8 million is available statewide and awards are traditionally made through the Consolidated Funding Application, opening in May and closing at the end of July.

Office of Planning Development, and Community Infrastructure (OPDCI) Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Grant -Financial assistance grants are available on a competitive basis to municipalities to develop or update comprehensive plans, area plans (such as Transit Oriented Development plan) or zoning ordinances that incorporate smart growth principles including promoting efficient and sustainable land development and redevelopment patterns that optimize prior infrastructure investments. These planning efforts should reflect a community goals and aspirations for its own future, and address a wide range of planning issues including, but not limited to, appropriate physical development, economic development, transportation patterns, natural and built resource inventories, and population trends, while setting a course for clean and affordable energy , efficient use of land, protection of agricultural working lands and forests and overall healthy communities.Awards range up to $2 million and are traditionally awarded through the Consolidated Funding Application opening in May and closing at the end of July.

Office of Planning Development, and Community Infrastructure (OPDCI) Smart Growth Countywide Resiliency Planning Grant - Financial assistance grants are available on a competitive basis to counties, regional planning councils and non-profit organizations for grants to support the creation of countywide resiliency plans that primarily address climate change risks and vulnerabilities associated with an increase in frequency and severity of storm and precipitation events; sea-level rise; storm surge; flooding; drought; extreme heat; and other climate hazards.Countywide resiliency plans will consider past damages, future threats, and potential economic opportunities and identify strategies and projects to make communities more resilient. It is expected these countywide resiliency plans will ensure that any reconstruction or revitalization efforts strengthen community vitality, maximize use of available funds, and reduce future weather and climate related damages. Awards range up to $300,000 and are traditionally awarded through the Consolidated Funding Application, opening in May and closing at the end of July.

TNC’s New York Climate Resilience Grant Program – Offers up to $50,000 for fee and easement acquisitions and for projects that strengthen organizational capacity for protecting resilient lands, secure vital floodplains and shorelines and help communities adapt to climate change. Projects with exceptional conservation and community-focused attributes may be eligible for additional funding.

Last updated May 3, 2024