Resources for

Engagement

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

FEMA National Resilience Guidance: A Collaborative Approach to Building Resilience

FEMA’s National Resilience Guidance document is intended to help all individuals, communities, and organizations understand our nation’s vision for resilience, the key principles that must be applied to strengthen resilience, and the players and systems that contribute to resilience. It also outlines how to strengthen resilience by organizing and engaging people, incorporating resilience concepts into planning efforts, creating change through policies, prioritizing projects and programs, financing resilience efforts, and measuring and evaluating resilience. Finally, the NRG includes a Resilience Maturity Model that illustrates stages in the evolution of a community’s approach to resilience.

New York State
Connecticut State
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

The New York Community Trust: Westchester Ongoing Competitive Grants

The New York Community Trust, which brings together the New York Community Trust, The Long Island Community Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation offers competitive grants to nonprofits to support projects in a number of areas across New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond. For work on Westchester, proposals are accepted from nonprofits during the specified timeframes.

New York State
Habitat
Land Use
Environmental Health Hazards
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

The New York Community Trust: Long Island Ongoing Competitive Grants

The New York Community Trust, which brings together the New York Community Trust, The Long Island Community Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation offers competitive grants to nonprofits to support projects in a number of areas across New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond. For work on Long Island, proposals are accepted from nonprofits during the specified timeframes.

New York State
Habitat
Land Use
Environmental Health Hazards
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

$500 - $1,000

Seed Grants Program

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Connecticut State
Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Marine Debris
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Feb 28 – May 28, 2024

$200,000 - $3,000,000

Clean Ports Program: Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that helps our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. EPA has announced two separate Notices of Funding Opportunities to disburse the allocated $3 billion – the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition AND the Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition.

New York State
Connecticut State
Environmental Health Hazards
Economic Impacts
Planning
Community Engagement

Funding

: Feb 22 – Apr 10, 2024

$100,000 - $10M

National Coastal Resilience Fund 2024

The NCRF is a national program with the goal of enhancing protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife. This year, NFWF will award approximately $140 million in grants for the planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions.

New York State
Connecticut State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Aquatic Resources
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Feb 12 – Mar 8, 2024

No pre-defined funding range

Working Lands Climate Corps

The Working Lands Climate Corps will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the country, now and in the future. The Working Lands Climate Corps is part of the American Climate Corps, a workforce training and service initiative that is working to ensure more young people have access to the skills-based training needed for good paying careers in the clean energy and climate resilience economy.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use
Environmental Justice
Community Engagement

Funding

: Nov 21 – Nov 21, 2024

$10-20M (Track 1), $1-3M (Track 2)

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

New York State
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: May 14 – Jul 31, 2024

$100-500K

Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

Through the New York State Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program, known and suspected brownfields are transformed from liabilities to community assets that generate businesses, jobs and revenues for local economies and provide new housing and public amenities. Four types of activities are eligible for BOA funding: 1) County-wide Pre-Planning: Brownfield Identification and Preliminary Analysis, 2) Planning: Development of a BOA Plan, 3) Predevelopment within a State-Designated BOA, 4) Phase II Environmental Site Assessments within a State-Designated BOA.

New York State
Environmental Health Hazards
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure
Planning
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

Past awards have ranged from $25,000-$1,000,000, depending on project type and scale

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control

The Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program is a cost-share grant program that provides funding to address and prevent potential water quality issues that stem from farming activities. Financial and technical assistance supports the planning and implementation of on-farm projects with the goal of improving water quality in New York’s waterways.

New York State
Land Use
Water Quality

Funding

: Jan 6 – Aug 5, 2024

Average award is $20,000

The Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund (LIUUF)

For more than 30 years, our Long Island Unitarian Universalist Fund (LIUUF), a field-of-interest advised fund at The New York Community Trust, has worked to address education and racial equity, environmental justice, and immigrant rights. The fund also focuses on LGBTQ+ advocacy, women’s rights, leadership development, legal and legislative advocacy, and community organizing. The fund was established by the Veatch Program at Shelter Rock.

LIUUF grantmaking reflects Unitarian Universalist principles and the Fund’s overarching mission is to build and energize a community of progressive social change activists, and to support prophetic voices in vulnerable communities who speak out against injustices—often in unsafe environments and at personal risk and sacrifice.

Guided by an advisory committee that represents Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout Long Island, the LIUUF has awarded millions of dollars to nonprofits in Nassau and Suffolk counties to advance grassroots progressive social change.

New York State
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

The New York Community Trust: New York City Ongoing Competitive Grants

The New York Community Trust, which brings together the New York Community Trust, The Long Island Community Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation offers competitive grants to nonprofits to support projects in a number of areas across New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond. For work in New York City, proposals are accepted from nonprofits anytime through the ongoing competitive grants proposal process.

New York State
Habitat
Land Use
Environmental Health Hazards
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Aug 30 – Dec 23, 2024

$50,000-$100,000

New York State Conservation Partnership Program

The Land Trust Alliance, with support from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Legislature, is pleased to announce a twentieth round of competitive land trust grants through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program. Up to $3,075,000 is available in the 2024-2025 grants round, across five categories: Capacity & Excellence, Professional Development, Conservation Catalyst, Stewardship & Resource Management, and Transaction grants.

New York State
Habitat
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10 – Nov 1, 2023

$11,000-$200,000

Invasive Species Grants Program

This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), is designed to advance projects that target both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state, with six funding categories that address invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach.

New York State
Habitat
Aquatic Resources
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10 – Sep 30, 2023

$1,000

Quick Start and Tree City USA Reward

TREE CITY USA Reward Grants
The intent of this grant is to encourage municipalities to sustain their community forestry program and maintain their status as a Tree City USA through a celebratory tree planting in which large specimen trees or a grove of trees are planted in a prominent location within the community. The grants are made possible by a combination of U.S. Forest Service grant funds and unrestricted NYSUFC funds; applicants are sought in spring and/or fall and must have been a Tree City USA for at least the past five years.

Quick Start Grants
Through U.S. Forest Service funding, the NYSUFC offers Quick Start competitive grants of up to $1,000 each to small communities who want to pursue Tree City USA status, starting with an inaugural Arbor Day tree planting celebration in spring or fall.

New York State
Habitat
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10 – Aug 7, 2024

$50,000-$100,000

NYSDEC Community Impact Grant Program

$7.34 million is available for community-based organizations for projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organizations having 501(c)(3) status or a community-based organization may partner with a NFP that will serve as their fiscal sponsor. Eligible projects must address a community’s exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks and include a new research component that will be used to expand the knowledge of the affected community.

New York State
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Community Engagement

Funding

: Jan 1 – Apr 15, 2023

~$1,500

EPOC 2022 Environmental Grant Program

The EPOC Grant Program provides non-profit and not-for-profit environmental advocacy groups, community based groups and environmental education organizations funding for local projects that benefit the environment.

Connecticut State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Aquatic Resources
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jul 8 – Nov 1, 2024

$40,000

Healthy Communities Grant Program for New England

The Healthy Communities Grant Program is EPA New England’s main competitive grant program to work directly with communities to reduce environmental risks to protect and improve human health and the quality of life. he Healthy Communities Grant Program will achieve this through identifying and funding projects that:
– Target resources to benefit communities at risk.
– Assess, understand, and reduce environmental and human health risks.
– Increase collaboration through partnerships and community-based projects.
– Build institutional and community capacity to understand and solve environmental and human health problems.
– Achieve measurable environmental and human health benefits.

Connecticut State
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Oct 24 – Feb 20, 2024

$25,000 to $150,000

New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)

NOAA’s Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program is an environmental education program that promotes place-based experiential learning for K–12 students and related professional development for teachers.This funding opportunity focuses on projects combining long-term, classroom-integrated “Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences” and capacity building for K-12 Environmental Literacy at the state and local level.

Connecticut State
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality
Community Engagement

Funding

: Aug 22 – Dec 2, 2024

Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program

The Department’s Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program provides funding assistance to develop or enhance urban open spaces for public enjoyment and/or environmental education.

Connecticut State
Land Use
Environmental Justice
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10 – Feb 27, 2024

up to $2,000

The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals Grant Program

The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals Grant Program provides funding for local projects in Connecticut that benefit the environment. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded. Any application meeting the grant guidelines that is not successful in one cycle may reapply during any following cycle. The applications will be judged based on the environmental benefits of each project, in comparison to others. “Environmental benefits” can vary widely and successful applications have ranged from property clean-ups to environmental education.

Connecticut State
Stormwater Management
Marine Debris
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Water Quality
Erosion
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Dec 31 – Mar 11, 2024

less than $1M

Connecticut Recreational Trails Program

This year, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)’s Recreational Trails Program will make $10 million available to improve Connecticut’s trail infrastructure, which has seen significant usage increases since the onset of the pandemic. This grant program aims to help support communities managing the trail usage increases that have endured as more residents and visitors become familiar with the more than 2,500 miles of multi-use trails and greenways that crisscross the state.

Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use
Infrastructure
Planning
Community Engagement

Funding

: Mar 20 – Sep 17, 2024

$1,000 - $4,000

Grow Grants Program

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Connecticut State
Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Marine Debris
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

Up to $5000

Community Match Fund

Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund is an innovative program that provides fast, flexible funding and support for engaging your community on wide-ranging sustainability projects. Eligible projects receive dollar-for-dollar matching funds from Sustainable CT.

Connecticut State
Stormwater Management
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Water Quality
Erosion
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

none specified

Urban Act Grant Program

The Urban Act grant program is open to all Connecticut municipalities designated as economically distressed, public investment communities or urban centers. Funds are provided to improve and expand state activities which promote community conservation and development and improve the quality of life for urban residents of the state.

Connecticut State
Environmental Health Hazards
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 4 – Feb 1, 2024

$15,000-$200,000

Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund

The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund (LISSF) is a competitive grant program seeking proposals to restore and protect the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. LISSF is interested in empowering communities of all kinds (including communities typically underrepresented in environmental programs and projects) to access, improve, and benefit from Long Island Sound, its waterways, and surrounding lands. Up to $500,000 was expected to be available for grants in 2023. The most competitive proposals will incorporate multiple values including sustainability, resilience, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

New York State
Connecticut State
Community Engagement

Funding

: Dec 10 – Apr 12, 2023

$100,000 - $1,000,000

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF)

NFWF will award up to $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems in order to increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion, while improving habitats for fish and wildlife species. NFWF prioritizes projects that are community led or incorporate direct community engagement and benefit underserved communities facing disproportionate harm from climate impacts.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Aquatic Resources
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Sep 9 – Nov 22, 2024

$5,000-$100,000

Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) 2025 RFA

EPA Long Island Sound Study announced the second round of this Environmental Justice program focused on the Long Island Sound watershed area within New York and Connecticut. The purpose of the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is to provide technical and financial assistance to communities with environmental justice concerns to address environmental issues and improve the quality and accessibility of the Long Island Sound. Technical assistance will be provided through LISCIF and is available to communities/organizations even if one does not submit a funding proposal.  

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Justice
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Dec 10, 2024

NA

General Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Habitat Conservation Project

In order to respond promptly to funding opportunities from various sources, ACFHP is soliciting applications for habitat conservation projects in need of funding that align with ACFHP’s objectives and priority habitats. The Request for Proposals is not linked to a specific funding source. Instead, newly submitted projects reviewed and approved by ACFHP will be added to our project database and recommended as funding becomes available.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Mar 1 – May 13, 2024

$50K - $1.5M

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) will be seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound) with approximately $12 million in funding in 2024. The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Major funding is from EPA through the LISS with additional funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Avangrid Foundation.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Aquatic Resources
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Dec 10 – Apr 15, 2024

up to ~$75,000

Increasing Recreational Fisheries Engagement through Fish Habitat Partnerships (FY24)

The goals of this funding opportunity are to enhance collaboration with recreational, subsistence, cultural, and non-commercial fishing communities, and to protect and restore habitat. Healthy habitat leads to more fishing opportunities and increased climate resilience, and there are numerous opportunities to advance habitat conservation by working together.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Aquatic Resources
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Funding

: Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2024

Typically $40,000 - $150,000 (avg $75,000)

11th Hour Racing Grants

11th Hour Racing fosters systemic change to restore ocean health — our vision for the future includes cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world. By supporting local pilot programs that model best practices of sustainability, restore coastal ecosystems, and advance ocean stewardship, our grantees are creating systemic change to restore ocean health. We are working toward a future of cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world. 11th Hour Racing works to facilitate this transition by supporting local solutions to global problems, led by community organizations and industry leaders.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Dec 10 – Jan 31, 2024

no maximum

FY2024 Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Funding Cycle

The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) is requesting project applications to restore and conserve habitat necessary to support coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fish species along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Federal funding available through the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) program will be used to support the top ranked proposals. To ensure available funding is being directed most effectively, projects should be geared toward meeting ACFHP’s conservation objectives described in its Conservation Strategic Plan.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Funding

: Nov 1 – Jan 31, 2024

$30,000 - $60,000

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Environmental Justice
Water Quality
Community Engagement

Funding

: Jun 29 – Nov 30, 2023

$500K - $10M

2023 Inflation Reduction Act Climate Ready Workforce for Coastal States, Tribes, and Territories Competition

Sea Grant and the NOAA Climate Program Office, with support from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management, seek to establish programs aimed at placing people across the country into good jobs that advance climate resilience and assisting employers in developing a 21st century workforce that is climate literate, informed by climate resilience, and skilled at addressing consequent challenges. NOAA will assist communities in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories so they may form partnerships that train workers and place them into jobs that enhance climate resilience.

New York State
Connecticut State
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Incentive Programs
Planning
Community Engagement

Case Study

East Haddam, CT

East Haddam Community Resilience Building Summary of Findings

With support from the Nature Conservancy and Sustainable CT, East Haddam organized a Community Resilience Building process and workshop, the results of which were compiled into this summary. The team engaged with community members to determine the present hazards and vulnerabilities and identify resilient solutions.

Connecticut State
Water Quality
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Funding/Grants
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Case Study

Stratford, CT

Restoration of the Great Meadows Marsh

This project restored 46 acres of the Great Meadows Marsh in Connecticut that was degraded from dredge material that was dumped on site, poor drainage, and sea level rise. The marsh was also overrun with invasive plants and mosquitoes. A controlled fire was started to kill the invasive reeds growing in the marsh. Then a construction crew removed invasive plants and the dumped dredge material. Lastly, channels were carefully dug for tidal flushing which will allow the marsh to keep pace with sea level rise. Soil hummocks were constructed for Salt Marsh Sparrow habitat. Now the area continues to be monitored, assessed for resiliency, and provides a field for innovative solutions to be tested in.

Partners

Trustees: USFWS, NOAA, State of Connecticut; Project Partners: Audubon Connecticut, Town of Stratford

Connecticut State
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Case Study

Hoffman Evergreen Preserve

This Avalonia and Sea Grant effort in Stonington, CT restored the preserve using native, well-researched plant species that would thrive in the forest and offer biodiversity. First, the area was cut down precisely to allow for new, ground-level growth. Then the preserve was seeded with plants chosen by the field team.

Connecticut State
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Community Engagement

Case Study

Dodge Paddock/Beal Preserve

This public greenspace was suffering from mosquito overpopulation, invasion from Phragmites, and poor tidal/stormwater drainage. The Wetland’s Habitat and Mosquito Management Program (WHAMM) created a new drainage area and tunnels, while also eliminating invasive plants. Then organizations and volunteers banded together to remove and replace invasive plant species with native plants.

Connecticut State
Flooding
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Wetlands

Resilience Steps

Connect

LISS
EPA Sea Grant New York Sea Grant Connecticut