Veronica PiscitelliNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $60 million in awards from the Environmental Bond Act funding will be given out as the next round of Green Resiliency Grants. The program supports projects across flood-prone communities in New York to create vital stormwater management and resilient infrastructure.
New York voters overwhelmingly approved the ballot proposition for the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. This made $4.2 billion available for continued historic investments to safeguard water quality, reduce pollution, strengthen resiliency and create green jobs. The state introduced the Green Resiliency Grant in 2024, continuing previous water and resilience investments.
In its inaugural round, the Green Resiliency Grant awarded $60 million to 13 major projects across the state. The second round of funding will again offer $60 million to environmental initiatives. In this round, priority will be placed on projects offering significant risk reduction by helping communities build storm-ready infrastructure that provides long-term solutions and stability. By implementing the grant, New Yorkers get assistance to prepare and protect themselves from extreme weather events. Additionally, it makes the projects more affordable, minimizes the financial impact on local ratepayers and creates higher-paying jobs.
The governor’s office said the goal is to provide the following benefits:
- Safer, more resilient communities: Managing stormwater to mitigate flooding and better protect homes and businesses
- Cleaner water and air: Reducing and treating stormwater at the source
- Cooler cities: Reducing urban heat island effect to create a more comfortable environment
- Thriving ecosystems: Restoring habitats to bring nature back to communities
- Vibrant communities: Encouraging economic development, revitalizing neighborhoods, and enhancing recreational opportunities
The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) opened applications for this round of the Green Resiliency Grants on May 1.
New York continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure. In State Fiscal Year 2024 alone, more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC was given to local water infrastructure projects. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget has a proposed $500 million for clean water infrastructure. With this additional funding, New York will have invested a record $6 billion into water infrastructure since 2017.
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