New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced at least $18 million now available under the Climate Smart Communities Grant program to help municipalities take action to address climate change. Eligible projects help reduce flooding and protect critical infrastructure, support decreasing transportation emissions through cycling and walkability projects, reduce emissions from food waste and landfills, and undertake feasibility studies to advance climate projects. The funding is part of the millions of dollars now available through the Consolidated Funding Application recently announced by Governor Kathy Hochul for more than 20 programs to facilitate projects that advance regional strategic plans and State priorities. 

“DEC’s Climate Smart Communities grants, made possible thanks to funding from the Environmental Protection Fund and Environmental Bond Act, support municipal investments and projects to reduce harmful pollution, protect the environment, and improve community resilience,” Commissioner Lefton said. “State and local partnerships are critical to advance New York’s efforts to ensure climate equity, save costs for consumers, and transition to more affordable and efficient clean energy alternatives.” 

Funding for the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program is supported by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the State's Environmental Protection Fund. Since the CSC Grant program's inception in 2016, DEC has awarded more than $109 million to municipalities in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects. 

Applications for CSC grants are submitted via the Consolidated Funding Application; see DEC’s website for more details. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after that date and time. 

As part of the program, municipalities are required to provide a local match of 50% of the total costs for most projects. For communities that meet the criteria for financial hardship or for projects that are located in disadvantaged communities, the match may be lowered to 20%.  

At least $17 million is available for grants of between $35,000 and $2 million for implementation projects related to the following topics, among others:

• Reducing vehicle miles travelled (VMT)
• Reducing food waste in landfills
• Reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and cooling equipment
• Increasing natural resiliency through restoration or preservation of natural features
• Reducing future flood risks, including by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure
• Preparing for extreme heat and extreme weather events
• Renewable energy projects in municipal facilities
• Engineering feasibility studies for flood risk reduction, refrigerant management, and smart growth analysis.  

In addition, up to $1 million is available for grants of between $10,000 and $200,000 for 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. 

Updates to CSC Grant Program

DEC recently announced revisions expanding the number of entities eligible to receive grants under Climate Smart Community Projects, including local public authorities, local public benefit corporations, and Indian Nations, consistent with the Environmental Conservation Law. Expanded eligibility will allow for additional entities to apply for funding and help to ensure increased participation among disadvantaged communities. Visit DEC’s website for more information. 

CSC Program

The Climate Smart Communities Grant program is one component of the larger interagency CSC Program established in 2009. To date, more than 470 local governments representing about 18 million New Yorkers have committed to mitigating and adapting to climate change by adopting the CSC pledge. This interagency effort is jointly sponsored by DEC, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Power Authority, Department of State, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Service, and Division of Homes and Community Renewal. 

Since 2014, DEC has managed the CSC Certification program with the support of these partner agencies. Starting in 2016, the CSC Grant program has funded projects that help municipalities earn points under the CSC Certification program. To date, there are 185 local governments that have gone above and beyond the CSC pledge to achieve certification. DEC also provides free technical assistance to local governments through the regional CSC coordinators. Find out more on the Climate Smart Communities Certification webpage. 

During Earth Week, DEC announced 23 municipalities across the state certified under the Climate Smart Communities Certification program, including New York City and Erie County that were certified and recertified, respectively, as silver, the highest level of the program. Also, in October, DEC announced a total of $5 million for electric vehicle chargers and $585,000 for electric or hybrid vehicles for municipal fleets under the ZEV Grants program. Awards are expected to be announced in late summer. 

2026-2027 Enacted Budget Highlights

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the 2026-27 Enacted Budget includes another record $1 billion investment in the Sustainable Future Program, reinforcing New York’s historic commitment to clean energy and greenhouse gas mitigation. The 2026-27 Budget also reaffirms New York’s commitment to environmental leadership by appropriating $425 million to the Environmental Protection Fund, using $25 million from the Sustainable Future Program to provide a record $450 million for important environmental programs. The Budget also amends DEC’s Municipal Zero Emissions Vehicle Program to raise the maximum cap on rebates per-vehicle to $30,000 (up from $7,500), helping spur additional local investments in cleaner transportation. 

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 40 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors. The State is also working to disburse the historic $2 billion Sustainable Future Program, which will deliver targeted funding to lower emissions, reduce household energy costs, and spur green job growth. 

About the Consolidated Funding Application

The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the Consolidated Funding Application.