Green Resiliency Grants (NY)

Green Resiliency Grants (NY)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
Amount: US $1,000,000 - US $10,000,000
Last Updated: May 09, 2025

Summary

The Green Resiliency Grants (NY) program, administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, supports projects improving water quality and addressing extreme weather effects. Funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, grants range from $1 million to $10 million, covering up to 90% of eligible costs. Priority is given to disadvantaged communities, ensuring at least 35% benefit from the funding, promoting sustainable infrastructure across New York State.

Overview

Green Resiliency Grant The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) will offer grants for certain projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of extreme weather through the Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) program. This grant funding is made available, in part, through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act). GRG grants are awarded on a competitive basis to transformative projects that enhance the resilience of stormwater infrastructure across New York State (NYS). Eligible projects must utilize green infrastructure (GI) stormwater management practices (SMPs) and/or nature-based solutions to manage combined and/or sanitary sewer overflows and/or mitigate risks associated with extreme weather events. Projects must not begin construction before notification of award and must commence construction before posted deadline. Disadvantaged communities will receive no less than 35 percent of the benefit from this funding. Eligible Projects Regional Green Infrastructure projects utilize nature-based solutions to establish or restore natural landscape features that improve water quality and support healthy watersheds, while also protecting wildlife and their habitats.Eligible Regional GI practices include the establishment and or restoration of nature-based features such as:FloodplainsRiparian buffersStreamsStreambanksWetlandsStormwater ponds that provide an extended detention functionLocal Green Infrastructure projects are typically located in an urban environment and consist of site and neighborhood specific SMPs. These projects typically provide co-benefits such as reduced CSO and SSO events, flood protection, habitat restoration, improved air and water quality, reduction in urban heat island effect, and street and neighborhood beautification that can spur economic development and community revitalization.Eligible Local GI SMPs include:Stormwater retrofits, retention, and slow-release designsBioretention and bioswalesStormwater harvest and reuse systemsGreen roofs, blue roofs, and green wallsPorous pavements or other porous surfacesStormwater street trees and tree trenchesAll Local GI SMPs, along with stormwater wetlands and ponds, must be designed in accordance with the latest version of the New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual. Funding GRG may fund up to 90 percent of eligible project costs with grants ranging from a minimum of $1 million to a maximum of $10 million per project. GRG projects must be capable of capturing, treating, or increasing the time of concentration for a minimum of 2,500 cubic feet of stormwater per 90th-percentile rainfall event within a clearly defined drainage area that contributes to a specific water quality or quantity concern. Projects must demonstrate a concentrated impact on a singular drainage system. Proposals combining multiple, unconnected drainage areas should be submitted as separate applications. Funding will be provided to projects to the extent that funds are available based on the evaluation criteria, including the specific proposed practices, water quality impacts of the project, and financial need of the municipality. EFC, in its sole discretion, may fund all or a portion of an eligible project and will determine the percentage amount available for any project. A local match for the balance of the estimated project cost is required.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible ApplicantsAny municipality, as defined by NYS Environmental Conservation Law Article 58 to include “a local public authority or public benefit corporation, a county, city, town, village, school district, supervisory district, district corporation, improvement district within a county, city, town or village, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York state, or any combination thereof.”;Any public benefit corporation or public authority established pursuant to the laws of New York; orAny agency of the State that is empowered to construct and operate a water quality infrastructure project, including state entities.Applicants must have an ownership interest in the project site and have the right to access, operate, and maintain the project for its useful life.Matching ShareAll grants require a minimum local matching share equal to a minimum of 10 percent of the total eligible project costs. The match may be provided as cash, administrative and/or technical force account, materials and equipment, or volunteer labor by qualified individuals. The applicant must identify the source of the match with the application submittal.Applicants may have no more than two active GRG awards at the same time. A GRG award is considered active from when a project has been awarded funding through the completion of construction. Applicants must prioritize projects if submitting more than one application.

Ineligibility

Other State funds may not be used for local match. Applicants who previously received a GRG award are not eligible to receive funding for the same project. Additionally, projects that have been awarded a grant through the Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) are not eligible for GRG funding.Ineligible activities and costs include, but are not limited to, the following:Implementation of studies prepared through the Resilient NY program or otherwise eligible under the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Resilient Watersheds Grant (RWG) Program.Hardening, channelizing, or straightening streams and/or streambanks.Coastal rehabilitation or restoration project such as projects that establish or restore living shorelines, artificial reefs, dunes, and shellfish beds. These projects may be eligible under the NYS Department of State (NYSDOS) Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects grant program.Dam removal, which may be eligible under the RWG or Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects programs.Dredging required as a result of deferred maintenance.Dry detention basins, dry ponds, and sand filters.In-line and end-of-pipe underground stormwater control and treatment systems that only filter or detain stormwater, including, but not limited to, devices such as swirl concentrators, hydrodynamic separators, catch basin inserts, baffle systems for grit, trash/floatable removal, oil and grease separation, and inflatable booms or dams unless such devices satisfy pretreatment requirements for eligible GI practices.SMPs that use impervious or semi-impervious liners, unless required by the Stormwater Management Design Manual due to inadequate separation to groundwater, tributary hotspot runoff, or known soil contamination.Stormwater conveyance systems that are not soil/vegetation based (swales) such as pipes, curtain drains, and concrete channels unless such conveyance systems direct stormwater to eligible GI practices.Infiltration practices (i.e., trenches, basins, dry wells, underground systems) that are not otherwise part of a broader project containing eligible GI practices.SMPs implemented to comply with the New York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity.Wetland construction or restoration required as compensatory mitigation for adverse impacts to wetlands or other environmental damage caused through construction activities.Purchase of capital equipment such as street sweepers, sewer cleaners, and vactor trucks.Project costs not directly related to water quality, including asbestos abatement and site amenities (e.g., bus shelters, benches, traffic devices, decorative lighting, etc.).Costs associated with the operation, maintenance, and ongoing monitoring of the project.Projects limited to planning and/or design costs (e.g. watershed study, urban forestry plan).