Local municipalities included in DEC's Climate Smart Communities grants

ALBANY | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton has announced $22.7 million in Climate Smart Communities Grant awards for 43 projects to help municipalities take action to address climate change. This year's funded projects reduce flood risk by retrofitting or relocating critical infrastructure, support decreasing transportation emissions through cycling and walkability projects, reduce emissions from food waste and landfills, and undertake engineering feasibility studies to advance future climate projects, among many other actions. "DEC's Climate Smart Communities grants support municipal investments to reduce pollution, protect the environment, and increase community resilience to climate impacts and severe weather," Commissioner Lefton said. "Governor Kathy Hochul recognizes reducing harmful emissions and advancing climate equity is critical to improving New Yorkers' health and quality of life, while also helping save money on energy costs. DEC is proud of our partnerships with local governments taking the lead on climate adaptation and resilience statewide." 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, which was increased to a record $425 million in the 2025-26 State Budget. Since the program's inception in 2016, DEC awarded more than $109 million to municipalities through the CSC Grant program in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects. As part of the CSC Grant Program, municipalities are required to provide a local match of 50 percent of the total costs for most projects. Last year's New York State budget made grants more accessible to more communities by authorizing DEC to provide up to 80 percent of the cost for municipal projects that meet criteria for financial hardship and for projects located in disadvantaged communities. TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH $100,000 Plattsburgh will develop a comprehensive plan with sustainability elements. As part of this effort, the town will also evaluate policies for climate resilience and prepare a plan for biking and walking. The plan will provide a foundation for updating zoning, implementing policies to expand housing availability, multi-modal transportation and address community health and equity issues. WARREN COUNTY $74,927 Warren County will conduct a culvert assessment and inventory for its local municipalities. The assessment will focus on high-priority flood-prone areas, identified using federal, state, and county flood data with input from municipal Highway Superintendents. The result will be a centrally managed GIS database housed and maintained by the Warren County GIS program. This shared platform will enable strategic, data-driven decision-making across jurisdictions, helping municipalities prioritize rural stormwater projects through the lens of resiliency. VILLAGE OF SARANAC LAKE $72,000 Saranac Lake will create a climate vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation plan. Climate change threatens the town's outdoor-focused tourism economy, economic wellbeing, public health, and long-term sustainability. These plans will be created to bolster climate preparedness, social cohesion, and economic longevity. TOWN OF JAY $30,000 Jay will develop a complete streets policy and a biking and walking plan to improve transportation safety, accessibility, and sustainability. The project will be conducted town-wide. The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program is one component of the larger, interagency CSC Program that was established in 2009. To date, more than 465 local governments representing more than 17.9 million New Yorkers, or 92 percent of the population, 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. At present, there are more than 165 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 webpage. 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. ABOUT THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more on the Regional Economic Development Councils website.

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Local municipalities included in DEC's Climate Smart Communities grants

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