Green Resiliency Grant Program Receives $60 Million in Earth Week Funding

A shot of construction along Route 219 in Orchard Park, New York.Photo byPhoto by J.M. Lesinski

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul recently celebrated Earth Week by announcing approximately $60 million in funding for the official inaugural round of the new Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) program, with the goals of providing vital grants to flood-prone communities and to assist those same communities in undertaking green infrastructure projects as well.

“Extreme weather events have become a regular occurrence in our state, and strong and sustainable infrastructure is our first line of defense,” Hochul remarked of the funding. “We are aggressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions across New York, and simultaneously need to prepare for coming storms. The Green Resiliency Grant program is an important step to build more durable infrastructure and protect our communities for generations to come.”

The GRG was mentioned in Hochul’s 2024 State of the State Address and Executive Budget, funded through a mixture of the NYS Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 and her own commitment to clean water infrastructure and resiliency, and is officially administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). 

“Governor Hochul understands it is critical to provide communities with financial resources to advance shovel ready projects that upgrade our infrastructure and make our communities more resilient to flooding and other climate impacts,” stated EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman of the funding. “The funding announced today will advance essential water quality improvement projects across the state that will ensure that our public water systems are protected, and we are better prepared to withstand the next severe storm.”

Eligibility guidelines are available on EFC’s website, where applications will also begin starting May 1, 2024. The maximum total of any one grant can be up to $10 million. Eligible projects must cost $1 million in total minimum and must positively impact a minimum of 100,000 cubic feet of stormwater runoff annually. 

“In fulfilling another State of the State commitment to help flood-prone communities, Governor Hochul’s actions are enabling more New Yorkers to receive the environmental, health, economic, and resilience benefits of green infrastructure,” Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar commented of the funding. “DEC looks forward to partnering with EFC and potential grant recipients on projects that will strengthen and improve participating communities and help them prosper.”