In recognition of August as National Resilience Month, New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley today announced the availability of $4.5 million in funding through three Department of State programs aimed at developing plans and projects to make New York communities more resilient to the effects of a changing climate. The three funding opportunities include: Countywide Resilience Implementation Strategy Program; Coastal Lakeshore Economy and Resiliency Implementation Design Grant; and the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Grant Program. The funding emphasizes natural solutions to resilience, such as living shorelines, green infrastructure and blue-green infrastructure. 

“A resilient community is a more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable community,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “With the increasing threats to life, property and our collective economies from severe weather events, the Department of State is stepping up its efforts with three programs that provide both planning and implementation support as New York State continues to set communities on the road to more resilient and safer preservation practices.”

The Department of State defines climate resilience as a community’s ability to withstand extreme weather events, recover quickly back to normal functions and adapt to rapidly changing climate and environmental conditions. The three funding opportunities announced today include:  

Countywide Resilience Implementation Strategy Program (CRISP) $1,000,000
The New York State Department of State’s Countywide Resilience Implementation Strategy Program provides funding to help counties develop actionable resilience strategies that reduce climate-related risks and advance projects toward implementation to strengthen community resilience.

Each funded Countywide Resilience Implementation Strategy Plan (CRISP) will serve as a practical roadmap for future resilience investments and decision-making. By preparing projects for implementation and positioning communities to compete for future funding, the program helps counties accelerate resilience investments that protect people, infrastructure, natural resources and local economies from the growing impacts of climate change.

Eligible applicants include NYS counties within NYS ECL Article 14 (The Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Act) New York coastal water areas, regional planning councils and not-for-profits that meet the program’s eligibility criteria. 

For more information on this funding opportunity, click here.

Coastal Lakeshore Economy and Resiliency (CLEAR) Implementation Design Grants $1,500,000 
This program provides funding to develop preliminary design for nature-based shoreline protection measures, resilient stormwater systems, and/or blue-green infrastructure resiliency projects for communities in the eight counties along Lake Ontario, the upper St. Lawrence River and the lower Niagara River. Counties including Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne have had Blue (water) and green (vegetated) infrastructure projects utilize natural or nature-based approaches to flooding and stormwater management. Examples of these projects include living shorelines, dune restoration, vegetated buffers, and wetland restoration. 

Eligible applicants include municipalities and counties located within Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne Counties, as well as Regional Planning Boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts on behalf of an eligible municipality or county. 

For more information on this funding opportunity, click here. 

Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Local Assistance Grant Program ($2,000,000)
This program provides funding for projects in the following four priority categories identified in the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP): 

Water quality improvement projects Design, engineering and implementation of coastal resilience projectsDesign, engineering and implementation of public water access and blueway trail implementationProjects supporting the goals of the SSER CMP 

This funding opportunity builds upon work outlined in the SSER Strategic investment plan and will make the SSER a better place to live, work and recreate for generations to come. The SSER is a unique and diverse ecosystem located along the Atlantic coastline on Long Island that provides critical habitats for hundreds of wildlife species. The SSER program guides the preservation, protection and enhancement of the natural, recreational, economic and educational resources of the Estuary through partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders. 

Eligible applicants include municipalities (counties, towns, villages, cities), Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Shinnecock Indian Nations, the Unkechaug Indian Nation, Academic Institutions, and Not-for-Profit organizations within Long Island’s South Shore estuary; for SSER boundaries, click here.

For more information on this funding opportunity, click here. 

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Supporting local governments and partners as they assess risks, strengthen resilience, and develop plans that protect people, infrastructure, natural resources, and local economies from the impacts of climate change is a vital step in achieving real resiliency. This new funding helps advance a coordinated approach to help communities adapt to changing conditions and prepare for future challenges. Through investments like the Environmental Protection Fund and Environmental Bond Act, New York is empowering communities to build a safer, stronger, and more resilient future.” 

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “As New York sees increasingly severe weather and other climate impacts, investing in resiliency planning and implementation is essential to protecting our communities. This funding will help local municipalities turn planning into action while advancing solutions that strengthen shorelines, safeguard critical infrastructure and resources, and better prepare New Yorkers.” 

New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Affordability is at the core of Governor Hochul’s resiliency plan to keep New Yorkers safe. By providing grants to plan and construct stormwater management projects, the State can help communities minimize costs for local ratepayers while avoiding the greater cost of inaction when the next big storm hits. From Long Island’s South Shore to the North Country, this funding helps communities get ahead of risks, strengthen their infrastructure, and provide critical flood protection for the most vulnerable areas.”

All three programs are funded through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This year, Governor Hochul has made available an unprecedented $450 million for programs supported by the EPF.

DOS will hold a webinar on all three programs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on September 10; click here to register. 

For further guidance and helpful resources on resiliency principles and projects, see the DOS Environmental Bond Act webpage here; the DOS Resilience Planning webpage here; and the Governor’s multi-agency Resilient NY website here.