EFC Announces Draft Eligibility Guidelines to Launch New Green Resiliency Grant Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – RealEstateRama – The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) today announced proposed eligibility guidelines to launch a new Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) program. This action delivers on elements of Governor Kathy Hochul’s clean water and resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather. The new program will prioritize grants to flood-prone communities and help them undertake innovative green infrastructure projects such as green roofs, green streets, and permeable pavement.
“As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, New York State is taking another step forward in its promise to safeguard our most vulnerable communities and reduce threats to critical infrastructure, water quality, and public health,” EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said. “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, EFC’s new Green Resiliency Grants will help strengthen communities’ ability to withstand the effects of climate change with tangible, innovative solutions that improve resiliency today and into the future.”
Governor Hochul announced GRG in her 2024 State of the State Address and Executive Budget as part of a comprehensive resiliency plan and actions to safeguard clean water.
GRG is a competitive grant program to support the implementation of green infrastructure projects. Green infrastructure can provide transformational benefits, including 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. Green infrastructure can also prevent runoff and improve water quality by reducing and treating stormwater at its source.
The public is encouraged to comment on the draft eligibility guidelines, which are available in this week’s Environmental Notice Bulletin. EFC will use public input on these draft eligibility guidelines to inform development of the program.
GRG may fund up to 90 percent of eligible project costs with a maximum grant of $10 million. GRG projects must have a minimum total project cost of $1 million and be capable of capturing, treating, or reducing the time of concentration for a minimum of 100,000 cubic feet of stormwater runoff annually. Eligible projects include those that address combined and/or sanitary sewer overflow during extreme weather events and those that combine green infrastructure and nature-based features to ensure climate resilient infrastructure.
Public comments on the draft eligibility guidelines may be submitted in writing to: Brian Hahn, NYS EFC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, or " rel="noreferrer">
Disadvantaged Communities
The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act requires that disadvantaged communities shall receive no less than 35 percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of the benefit of the total $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act funds.
Disadvantaged communities are those identified by the Climate Justice Working Group, pursuant to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. EFC established a 40 percent goal for the GRG program consistent with this requirement to benefit disadvantaged communities.
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including $325 million in grant opportunities made available in January. With Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget’s proposed $500 million over two years, New York will have invested a total of $5.5 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, the Governor expanded EFC’s Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding and address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with their water infrastructure is encouraged to contact EFC at https://www.efc.ny.gov/CAT.
The voter-approved $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. The first funding under the Environmental Bond Act was awarded by EFC in December through the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs, when Governor Hochul announced $479 million in grants to 156 projects across New York State.
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For Immediate Release:
Contact: Heather Cameron | 
