Resources for

New York State

Training

Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA)Training Program – Fall 2024

With funding from Long Island Sound Study and support from New York Sea Grant’s Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professionals, Pace University’s Land Use Law Center brought its award-winning Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program to Suffolk and Nassau municipalities within the Long Island Sound watershed. The training program consisted of three full-day workshops held in Hauppauge, NY that focused on the land use system, innovative approaches to sea level rise adaptation, hazard mitigation, and natural resource protection to strengthen community planning, regulation, and informed decision-making. 28 municipal staff and community leaders, representing 18 different Long Island Sound communities, completed the Program. Program graduates gained new networks of support, identified successful land use techniques, and developed implementation plans that will enable a more resilient future for their community and the Long Island Sound region.

The program comprised three full-day sessions on September 27, October 4, and October 18, 2024 at the Suffolk County Water Authority Education Center, 260 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, NY.  

If you are interested in learning more and participating in a future LULA training, please email lisresilience@gmail.com.

New York State
Land Use
Sea Level Rise
Planning
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement

Events

Meaningful Community Engagement  – Training Webinar

Learn methods and strategies to meaningfully engage your community. Organizers, Ruby Olisemeka and Adrian Huq will share their experience engaging environmental justice communities in New York and Connecticut. Panelists will share the importance of trust building and points to consider for ongoing community involvement. There will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share challenges to gain more insight.  The training is organized by Restore America’s Estuaries.

New York State
Connecticut State
Planning
Community Engagement

$150,000 - $3 million

Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grants

$15 million is available for municipalities, nonprofits, and State agencies through the Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grant program for tree planting projects that expand, restore and create forested natural areas that serve urban populations. This competitive reimbursement grant program contributes to New York State’s goal to plant 25 million trees by 2033, which will mitigate climate change impacts like extreme heat.

New York State
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Funding/Grants

Funding

: Jan 2 – Feb 14, 2025

$1.5 million

The Long Island Sound Eelgrass Restoration Program RFP

NEIWPCC, in cooperation with the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) National Estuary Program and its partners, is inviting proposals to develop and initiate a long-term and large-scale eelgrass seed dispersal restoration program. Eelgrass meadows are identified as a priority habitat for conservation and restoration in the LISS Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for their wide-ranging ecosystem benefits.

The purpose of this program is to advance the restoration of eelgrass meadow habitat in Long Island Sound by employing a long-term, large-scale, and evidence-based approach that is adaptable in the face of a changing climate. The program aims to increase eelgrass meadow extent and density by expanding acreage adjacent to well-established meadows as well as explore establishing new meadows where suitability is high. A priority of the project is to increase gene flow and genetic diversity by using seeds from multiple populations in the restoration areas. Proposals should also incorporate capacity building efforts for seed-based restoration work by forging collaborative partnerships in both New York and Connecticut.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality
Funding/Grants
Community Engagement

Report

Level of Effort:

Opportunities for Federal Support of Community-Driven Relocation

Community-driven relocation describes a situation where a community decides it will relocate,
in whole or in part, to reduce the risk faced by communities and individuals. This Community-Driven Relocation Subcommittee report provides background on community-driven relocation, an
overview of the current federal legal and programmatic landscape, and potential next steps that
Federal agencies can take, as part of a whole-of-government approach, to support communities
contemplating relocation.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Land Use
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Incentive Programs
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations

Training

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 3 – Planning for Inundation

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2024 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 3 – Planning for Inundation was held on Wednesday, December 11th from 10 AM-12 PM. Participants heard from communities and regional entities that are using or considering different aspects of planning for inundation, including buyout programs, land use policies, and community perspectives on retreat/relocation.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Economic Impacts
Incentive Programs
Planning
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant CT Sea Grant NY

Training

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 2 – Resilience Tools

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2024 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 2 – Resilience Tools was held on Tuesday, December 10th from 1:30-3:30 PM. Participants learned about new Resilience Tools being developed and used throughout coastal Long Island Sound.

New York State
Connecticut State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Planning
Recreation & Access
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant NY Sea Grant CT

Training

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 1 – SRC Resilience Assistance Programs

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2024 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 1 – SRC Resilience Assistance Programs was held on Tuesday, December 10th from 10-11:30 AM. Participants learned about our Sustainable and Resilient Communities resilience assistance programs and heard from communities who have successfully utilized them to advance resilience project plans, build capacity, and secure competitive grant funding!

New York State
Connecticut State
Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Funding/Grants
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Environmental Justice
Sea Level Rise
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant NY Sea Grant CT

Funding

: Dec 5 – Feb 28, 2025

$45k-100k for 1-year projects; $75k-150K for 2-year projects

Partners for Places – Round 22

Partners for Places aims to enhance local capacity to build equitable and sustainable communities in the United States and Canada. These matching awards support the planning and implementing of urban sustainability and green stormwater infrastructure projects.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Planning
Recreation & Access
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Nov 13 – Jan 17, 2025

$200,000-500,000

National Estuary Program Watersheds Grant Program

The NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant Program is a nationally competitive grants program designed to support projects that address urgent and challenging issues threatening the well-being of estuaries  within the 28 NEP boundary areas.

New York State
Connecticut State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Aquatic Resources
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Nov 19 – Mar 3, 2025

Climate Smart Communities Initiative

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) provides funding, expertise, training, and other resources to help communities advance their climate resilience plans and projects while also developing the strategies and capacities that communities nationwide will need as climate impacts intensify.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Justice
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure

Training

Nassau County Coastal Resilience Forum & Field Trip

On October 28, 2024, state and local decision makers, municipal staff, and other interested parties working to address coastal issues gathered at the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy in Sands Point, NY to identify opportunities to increase resilience, learn about best practices, and enhance coordination across communities. There were presentations on the Long Island Sound Resilience Resource Hub & Assistance Programs, NYSDEC Office of Climate Change updates, marsh conservation planning, bluff management and restoration, and nature-based solutions to increase shoreline resilience. There was also a guided walking tour of the resilience projects at Sands Point Preserve.

The event is hosted by Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, in partnership with the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy and Nassau and Suffolk Soil and Water Conservation Districts.   

New York State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Wetlands
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant NY Nassau Coastal Erosion Forum

Funding

: Oct 18 – Jan 17, 2025

Ida Homeowner Repair and Reimbursement Program

The Ida Homeowner Repair and Reimbursement Program (IHRR), through NYS Homes and Community Renewal, provides funding to home owners to repair damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.  Available assistance includes: 1) Reimbursement for the cost of repairs, reconstruction, and/or elevation completed and paid for out-of-pocket prior to IHRR application (includes costs paid for using private loans) 2) Grants to repair remaining damage caused by the storm, and 3) Reimbursement or grant funding for the cost of mitigation measures like elevating mechanicals, floodproofing, flood vents, and sewer backflow valves.

New York State
Infrastructure

Funding

: Nov 1 – Jan 30, 2025

RAISE Grant Program

Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. The RAISE program was previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Oct 27 – Feb 24, 2026

Min $100K for Planning Grants, $500K for Implementation

PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program – FY26

Established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program aims to help make surface transportation more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. Funding is available for planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk costal infrastructure. Projects selected under this program should be grounded in the best available scientific understanding of climate change risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities, and should utilize innovative and collaborative approaches to risk reduction, including the use of nature-based solutions.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Wetlands

Funding

: Sep 26 – Jan 22, 2024

$250K-$3M

Environmental Education Centers and Disadvantaged Communities Grant

$7 million is available in competitive grant funding in New York for community-based, not-for-profit, and tribal organizations to support the construction, or renovation of existing facilities, to create community environmental education centers, which will offer classes and programs on environmental awareness. The centers must be located within or serve a disadvantaged community Disadvantaged Communities Criteria – New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act or an environmental justice community Maps & Geospatial Information System (GIS) Tools For Environmental Justice and will help inspire exploration, discovery, and learning about the environment. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

New York State
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Events

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 3 – Planning for Inundation

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team is excited to announce that for our 2024 Annual Workshop we are holding a series of virtual sessions over two days focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 3 – Planning for Inundation 

Join us on Wednesday, December 11th from 10 AM-12 PM to hear from communities and regional entities that are considering different aspects of planning for inundation, including buyout programs, land use policies, and community perspectives on retreat/relocation.

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

Events

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 2 – Resilience Tools

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team is excited to announce that for our 2024 Annual Workshop we are holding a series of virtual sessions over two days focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 2 – Resilience Tools

Join us on Tuesday, December 10th from 1:30-3:30 PM to learn about new Resilience Tools being developed and used throughout coastal Long Island Sound!

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

Mapper

Level of Effort:

U.S. Sea Level Change

This site provides federally supported data visualizations coupled with explanations and science education to help communities prepare for challenges that will affect our coastal environments. By showing how sea levels are changing regionally, the site provides a foundation to inform decision-making related to coastal planning, resource management, and emergency operations.

This website is a collaborative effort from The Interagency Task Force on Sea Level Change (DOD, EPA, FEMA, NASA, NOAA, USACE, USAID, and USGS).

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Sea Level Rise

Events

3rd Annual SRC Workshop: Session 1 – SRC Resilience Assistance Programs

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team is excited to announce that for our 2024 Annual Workshop we are holding a series of virtual sessions over two days focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 1 – SRC Resilience Assistance Programs

Join us on Tuesday, December 10th from 10-11:30 AM to learn about our Sustainable and Resilient Communities resilience assistance programs and hear from communities who have successfully utilized them to advance resilience project plans, build capacity, and/or secure competitive grant funding!

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

Funding

: Aug 26 – Oct 23, 2024

Rooting Resilience: Funding and Technical Assistance for Urban and Community Forestry Projects

The Rooting Resilience Program will provide funding and technical assistance to community-based projects that build resilience and enhance communities’ abilities to plan and carry out forestry projects. This opportunity is available for projects located in federally designated disadvantaged communities, including urban, suburban, and rural communities in the United States and its territories. Special priority will be given to community-led groups that are seeking federal funding for the first time.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure

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

Resource

Level of Effort:

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Workbook

This workbook made by Groundwork Bridgeport provides a thorough but accessible introduction to green stormwater infrastructure. The workbook explains the issues that green infrastructure can help solve, introduces several green infrastructure methods, and then provides definitions, explains why each is uses, and details how to build them.

New York State
Connecticut State
Nature-based Solutions
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure

Training

Suffolk County Coastal Resilience Forum & Field Trip

On October 29, 2024, state and local decision makers, municipal staff, and other interested parties working to address coastal issues gathered at the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp in Riverhead, NY to identify opportunities to increase resilience, learn about best practices, and enhance coordination across communities. There were presentations on the Long Island Sound Resilience Resource Hub, NYSDEC Climate Office updates, marsh conservation planning, bluff management and restoration, and nature-based solutions to increase shoreline resilience. There was also a field trip to Iron Pier Beach/Maidstone Landing to view and learn about a community bluff restoration project.

This event was hosted by Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, in partnership with Nassau and Suffolk Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Nassau CCE, and Maidstone Landing. 

New York State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Wetlands
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant NY Suffolk SWCD Cornell Cooperative Extension

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Rebuild by Design Atlas of Accountability

Interactive map with county-level disaster declaration information and Congressional Districts for 2011-2023. Also includes a fact sheet and tables.

New York State
Connecticut State
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Plan

Level of Effort:

Rebuild by Design Atlas of Disaster: New York

National Report with State-based County-level data detailing the experiences of communities as a result of climate change. State reports include eight maps that show where major disasters have occurred, where post-disaster support has been given, where the most socially vulnerable populations reside, and the energy reliability by utility area. It also provides county-level disaster data within State Assembly, Senate, and Congressional district boundaries.

New York State
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Events

QAPP Examples and Guidance – Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Training Webinar

This webinar will go into more depth than Webinar 1 and will provide guidance and examples of QAPPs for three types of activities: Primary Data Collection, Secondary Data Use and Model Development. The training will also provide QAPP templates and resources for each QAPP type. This training is offered by Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) through the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF).

New York State
Connecticut State
Planning
Funding/Grants

Events

QAPP 101 – Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Training Webinar

This webinar will focus on QAPP basics, including their purpose when QAPPs are required, and what they need to include. It will also provide guidance on how to develop scopes and budgets for projects that need a QAPP. This training is offered by Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) through the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF).

New York State
Connecticut State
Planning
Funding/Grants

Events

Nassau County Coastal Resilience Forum & Field Trip

Join us at the Nassau County Coastal Resilience Forum for an opportunity to connect, learn and be inspired! 

The event is hosted by Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, in partnership with the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy and Nassau and Suffolk Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  

This forum will bring together state and local decision makers, municipal staff, and other interested parties working to address flooding, shoreline erosion and other coastal issues. The goal of these forums is to share information on best practices, discuss challenges, identify opportunities to increase resilience, and enhance coordination across communities. You will hear presentations from state, regional, and local partners about planning for sea level rise, coastal monitoring, and resilience techniques and case studies. In the afternoon, there will be a guided walking tour of the resilience projects at Sands Point Preserve! More detailed information will be provided closer to the date.

Date: Monday, October 28th, 2024 (rain or shine)

Time: 9:15 AM-3:30 PM

Location: Sands Point Preserve Conservancy – Castle Gould, Great Hall

127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, New York 11050

Register by October 23rd. Contact sarahschaefer-brown@cornell.edu for more information.

Included: Refreshments and lunch will be provided. The Preserve admission fee will be waived for participants.

We can also reimburse travel expenses up to $150/person (for those that do not have travel budgets through their employers) on a first come first serve basis

*The event is intended as a learning experience for adults 18 years of age or older. 

New York State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Planning
Recreation & Access
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jul 1 – Aug 30, 2024

$250K - $500K

Environmental Justice Data Fund

The second round of grantmaking for the Environmental Justice Data Fund (EJDF) will be supported by a $4 million fund. The EJDF aims to help frontline communities historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice in the United States use data to address environmental hazards, with special attention to matters regarding air and water quality. The EJDF will support eligible organizations to unlock resources, increase their access to federal infrastructure funding, and advocate for new policies that empower communities to address past environmental harm and pave the way to a more sustainable, climate-resilient future.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Water Quality
Community Engagement

Events

Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA)

The program comprises three full-day sessions from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm scheduled for September 27, October 4, and October 18 with sessions taking place at the Suffolk County Water Authority Education Center, 260 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, NY 11788.  

If you would like to participate, you must commit to attending all 3 days. 

Details:

Due to the generous support of the Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, Pace University’s Land Use Law Center will bring a unique training program to New York municipalities within the Long Island Sound. The curriculum for this program will emphasize the land use system, innovative approaches to sea level rise adaptation, economic development, hazard mitigation, and natural resource protection to strengthen community planning, regulation, and informed decision-making. Best management practices and technical assistance and community engagement on land use planning and regulation will also be provided.

The Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA) is designed to help leaders along the Long Island coast create new networks of support, identify successful land use techniques, and develop implementable local strategies that will enable a more resilient future for the region.

The program will be conducted by the Land Use Law Center of Pace Law School, one of the country’s preeminent groups dedicated to fostering the development of sustainable communities through the promotion of innovative land use strategies and collaborative decision-making techniques. The program will be offered free of charge and will provide continuing legal education credits for attorneys and satisfies the four hour training requirement for local board members. CM credits are being requested, as well.

We’d love to have your community participate in the program. We are looking for at least 2-3 local leaders from your community to attend the program.

If you are interested please email lisresilience@gmail.com.

New York State
Land Use
Planning
Policies & Regulations

Events

Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA)

The program comprises three full-day sessions from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm scheduled for September 27, October 4, and October 18 with sessions taking place at the Suffolk County Water Authority Education Center, 260 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, NY 11788.  

If you would like to participate, you must commit to attending all 3 days. 

Details:

Due to the generous support of the Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, Pace University’s Land Use Law Center will bring a unique training program to New York municipalities within the Long Island Sound. The curriculum for this program will emphasize the land use system, innovative approaches to sea level rise adaptation, economic development, hazard mitigation, and natural resource protection to strengthen community planning, regulation, and informed decision-making. Best management practices and technical assistance and community engagement on land use planning and regulation will also be provided.

The Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA) is designed to help leaders along the Long Island coast create new networks of support, identify successful land use techniques, and develop implementable local strategies that will enable a more resilient future for the region.

The program will be conducted by the Land Use Law Center of Pace Law School, one of the country’s preeminent groups dedicated to fostering the development of sustainable communities through the promotion of innovative land use strategies and collaborative decision-making techniques. The program will be offered free of charge and will provide continuing legal education credits for attorneys and satisfies the four hour training requirement for local board members. CM credits are being requested, as well.

We’d love to have your community participate in the program. We are looking for at least 2-3 local leaders from your community to attend the program.

If you are interested please email lisresilience@gmail.com.

New York State
Land Use
Planning
Policies & Regulations

Events

Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA)

The program comprises three full-day sessions from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm scheduled for September 27, October 4, and October 18 with sessions taking place at the Suffolk County Water Authority Education Center, 260 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, NY 11788.  

If you would like to participate, you must commit to attending all 3 days. 

Details:

Due to the generous support of the Long Island Sound Study and New York Sea Grant, Pace University’s Land Use Law Center will bring a unique training program to New York municipalities within the Long Island Sound. The curriculum for this program will emphasize the land use system, innovative approaches to sea level rise adaptation, economic development, hazard mitigation, and natural resource protection to strengthen community planning, regulation, and informed decision-making. Best management practices and technical assistance and community engagement on land use planning and regulation will also be provided.

The Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA) is designed to help leaders along the Long Island coast create new networks of support, identify successful land use techniques, and develop implementable local strategies that will enable a more resilient future for the region.

The program will be conducted by the Land Use Law Center of Pace Law School, one of the country’s preeminent groups dedicated to fostering the development of sustainable communities through the promotion of innovative land use strategies and collaborative decision-making techniques. The program will be offered free of charge and will provide continuing legal education credits for attorneys and satisfies the four hour training requirement for local board members. CM credits are being requested, as well.

We’d love to have your community participate in the program. We are looking for at least 2-3 local leaders from your community to attend the program.

If you are interested please email lisresilience@gmail.com.

New York State
Land Use
Planning
Policies & Regulations

Funding

: Jul 24 – Oct 9, 2024

$100,000 - $1M

FY25 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Marine Debris Interception Technologies

The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $7 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the installation of proven marine debris interception technologies, throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. Projects will focus on the installation, monitoring, and maintenance of proven marine debris interception technologies that will capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways.

New York State
Connecticut State
Environmental Health Hazards
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality

Funding

: Jul 24 – Sep 27, 2024

$1M - $10M

FY25 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Marine Debris Removal

The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $47 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the removal of large marine debris throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. These removal projects should focus on large marine debris, including abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand.

New York State
Connecticut State
Environmental Health Hazards
Aquatic Resources
Water Quality

Funding

: May 9 – Aug 16, 2024

Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Assistance for Water Sector Utilities

EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative is offering no-cost climate change risk assessment technical assistance to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, as well as other water sector stakeholders. Through this technical assistance process, CRWU will assist approximately 75 water sector utilities / communities in identifying long-term climate change adaptation strategies, as well as potential funding options to implement adaptive measures.

New York State
Connecticut State
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Planning
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Mapper

Level of Effort:

5th National Climate Assessment Atlas

NCA5 Atlas

To help Americans anticipate how changing climate conditions might affect their homes and businesses, the United States Global Change Research Program conducts a comprehensive review of scientific information on climate trends and impacts in our country every four years. The 5th National Climate Assessment — often referred to as NCA5 — was published in 2023.

This Interactive Atlas provides access to data compiled for NCA5. Browse the collection for your own investigations, or access the data for custom analysis and mapping.

New York State
Connecticut State
Environmental Health Hazards
Extreme Weather & Storms

Report

Level of Effort:

The Fifth National Climate Assessment

The Fifth National Climate Assessment is the US Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses. It is a congressionally mandated interagency effort that provides the scientific foundation to support informed decision-making across the United States.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Economic Impacts
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms

Funding

: Jul 9 – Sep 30, 2024

up to $2M for Planning, $5-$100M for Capital Construction

Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, available through the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and US DOT, makes awards on a competitive basis for projects that reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development.

New York State
Connecticut State
Nature-based Solutions
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure
Planning
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jan 22, 2025

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

: Jan 22, 2025

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

$75,000 - $350,000

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker Program

EPA has selected Fordham University to serve as pass-through entity for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grants for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Thriving Communities subgrants will be distributed to support capacity building in communities affected by environmental or public health issues to eligible applicants. The program aims to reduce the burden of the federal grants application process and distribute federal funds to potential applicants working to address environmental justice issues. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 31, 2025.

New York State
Flooding
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

A Guide to Permitting Shoreline Modification Projects in New York’s Tidal Waters

The permitting process for shoreline modification projects is complex and it can be daunting to know where to begin. Check out New York Sea Grant’s NEW Guide to Permitting Shoreline Modification Projects in New York’s Tidal Waters for an overview of the process informed by federal, state, and local perspectives. It is intended for permit applicants using the New York State Joint Application for shoreline construction or modification, ranging from major to minor projects such as construction of floating docks, installing natural and nature-based features, bulkhead repair, development near a wetland, dredging, and invasive species removal.

New York State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Infrastructure
Policies & Regulations
Wetlands

Website

Level of Effort:

New York State Climate Impacts Assessment: Understanding and Preparing for Our Changing Climate

The New York State Climate Impacts Assessment explores current and future climate change impacts to New York State communities, ecosystems, and economy. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) assembled more than 250 New York–based, national, and Indigenous climate science experts and representatives from diverse communities and industries across the state to contribute to this assessment. The findings are intended to help residents, businesses, and decision-makers across the state plan and prepare for climate change impacts.

New York State
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms

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

: Nov 7 – Apr 30, 2024

Round 7 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. ORLP is a nationally competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant program. It was created to aid disadvantaged, urban communities that lack access to close-by outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or substantial renovation of, public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces.

Projects may include any or all manner of outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, camping, unstructured play, picnicking, cycling, field and court sports, fishing, bird watching, swimming pools, paddling, and skating, as well as for outdoor recreation facilities and some supporting facilities and infrastructure like restrooms/bathhouses, or parking areas, when part of an overall recreation project.

New York State
Connecticut State
Land Use
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure
Recreation & Access
Community Engagement

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

Federal Flood Mitigation Funding Program Cheat Sheet

This resource outlines six different federal mitigation funding programs. It provides an overview of available options and links to learn more information and apply.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Funding/Grants

Funding

: Apr 1 – May 30, 2024

$50,000 - $200,000

Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, is soliciting proposals under their Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program.

Using funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science will award up to $1,475,000 in grants to remove derelict fishing traps throughout coastal waterways of the United States while collecting data to prevent future gear loss.

New York State
Connecticut State
Aquatic Resources
Economic Impacts
Water Quality
Waste Management
Marine Debris

Training

In Spring 2024 the SRC team hosted funding workshops in eastern CT, western CT, Westchester NY, and Long Island NY.

SRC Regional Funding Workshop – Long Island, NY

The Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team hosted a regional workshop on March 28, 2024, on Long Island, NY to provide information on funding opportunities to support sustainability and resilience projects. Attendees heard from program officers representing various local, state, and Long Island Sound funding organizations and were able to engage in discussions with funders to explore project ideas and ways to improve funding applications. Attendees also heard from a panel of successful awardees about their experiences and strategies.

New York State
Funding/Grants
Sea Grant NY Long Island Sound Study

Funding

: Feb 14 – Jun 21, 2024

$50,000 - $1M

2025 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program

The primary goal of the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant (NCWCG) Program is the long‐term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems. The program is designed to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands in coastal areas through competitive matching grants to eligible State agencies.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use
Wetlands

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

Events

NYS Clean Water Infrastructure Grant Workshop

New York State Assemblyman Steve Otis invites you to this NYS Clean Water Infrastructure Grant Workshop

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation & NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Special Presentation by NYS DEC Watershed Resiliency Study.

Topics Include:
Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) Grants
Intermunicipal Water Grant (IMG) Program
Water Quality Improvement Grants (WQIP)
Technical Assistance and Planning Grants
Community Assistance Teams

Since Hurricane Ida, NYS DEC targeted 6 Westchester Watersheds for state sponsored Watershed Resiliency Studies to assist communities in identifying flood mitigation projects and advance the process of securing funding for projects. The workshop will include a status report on these 6 watershed studies:

Blind Brook, Beaver Swamp Brook, Mamaroneck Sheldrake Rivers, Hutchinson River, Bronx River, and Saw Mill River

Networking opportunities with informational tables available from our co-sponsors.

New York State
Flooding
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Planning
Funding/Grants
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Oct 12 – Dec 15, 2023

$800M total available

FY23 Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program – New York

The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program is a competitive program that provides funding to states, federally recognized Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and local governments. Since the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 was signed into law, funds are used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Oct 12 – Dec 15, 2023

$1B total available

FY23 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants (BRIC) – New York

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program will support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. The BRIC program’s guiding principles are to support communities through capability and capacity building, encourage and enable innovation; promote partnerships, enable large projects, maintain flexibility, and provide consistency.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jan 22, 2025

up to $9,950

Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program

New York Sea Grant and Connecticut Sea Grant are providing grant preparation and writing capacity to New York and Connecticut communities that are pursuing funding for sustainability and resilience-focused projects. This technical assistance program helps municipalities and community organizations develop successful grant proposals and develop capacity for navigating the funding landscape. 

New York State
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

: Nov 25 – Feb 7, 2025

up to $50,000

New York Climate Resilience Grant Program

The Nature Conservancy is pleased to announce a fifth round of funding available in New York through our Climate Resilience Grant Program. The program supports conservation and climate adaptation projects, including land protection, led by local organizations, with the goal of increasing resilience to climate change for people and nature. Program grants will help local organizations with fee and easement acquisitions of lands that connect with important floodplains and shorelines that mitigate flooding and erosion. The grants will also provide funding for organizational capacity-building, planning and strategy development. We will prioritize projects that include engagement with and benefits to local communities, particularly in underserved and frontline communities. 

New York State
Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Planning
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

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

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA’s) Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Framework

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA’s) Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Framework, 3rd Edition, is a guide and collection of resources for use in analyzing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on transportation infrastructure. Its purpose is to identify key considerations, questions, and resources that can be used to design and implement a climate change vulnerability assessment. The processes, lessons learned, and resources outlined in the framework are geared toward state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other agencies involved in planning, building, or maintaining the transportation system. It includes suggestions and examples applicable to a wide range of applications, from small qualitative studies to large, detailed, data-intensive analyses. The resources included in the framework will be added to and updated over time.

New York State
Connecticut State
Flooding
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

Keep Forests Healthy: A Tool to Assess Resilience, Health & Productivity

Keep Forests Healthy: A Tool to Assess Resilience, Health & Productivity was developed by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, and The Nature Conservancy Central and Western New York Chapter to enable landowners to assess how their forest may be affected by changing climate conditions. This tool can help landowners identify potential risks to forests and highlight forest management options that may increase the ability of a forest to cope with the pressure of changing conditions. The document identifies 16 characteristics that may increase or decrease the risk of harm to a forest in a changing climate, which can then be discussed with a professional to plan forest management activities.

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use

Mapper

Level of Effort:

CT ECO Lower Long Island Sound Watershed Land Cover Viewer

The Long Island Sound Watershed Land Cover Viewer contains all dates of land cover as well as Change To, Change From, Riparian Area Land Cover, and Impervious Surface Estimate layers. It also has many layers where HUC 12 watersheds are colored based on a single land cover. 

New York State
Connecticut State
Habitat
Land Use
Aquatic Resources
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Planning
Wetlands

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

LINAP Embayment Water Exchange Study

The LINAP Embayment Water Exchange Study looked at how water exchange practices could affect the nitrogen impairments in embayments. A water exchange practice changes the amount, speed, or direction of water moving through an area. The results of the study show that water exchange techniques are not effective in large waterbodies like most of Long Island’s embayments. Often, the physical size of the water exchange practice is small compared to the large waterbodies to which they are applied, which means their impact is limited. Water exchange projects may be useful, however, for smaller Long Island waterbodies, where the volume of increased water exchange approaches the volume of the overall waterbody. The goal of the study was to provide communities with basic information on water exchange practices suitable for Long Island.

New York State
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Water Quality
Waste Management

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

EPA Equitable Resilience Builder (ERB)

The Equitable Resilience Builder (ERB) is an application that supports communities in resilience planning with a focus on equity. It engages users in a guided process to inclusively assess local hazards, equity, and the resilience of built, natural, and social environment systems. Results can be used to collaboratively prioritize actions to build community resilience in an equitable way.

New York State
Connecticut State
Environmental Justice
Planning
Community Engagement

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Potential Environmental Justice Area (PEJA) Communities

Data shows polygon locations of Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJA). PEJA’s have been identified based on data from the 2014-2018 5-year American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the US Census Bureau. Environmental justice efforts focus on improving the environment in communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, and addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities. The designated areas are considered for additional outreach within the permitting process, for grant eligibility, and for targeted enforcement of Environmental Conservation Law violations.

New York State
Environmental Justice

Resource

Level of Effort:

Rolling

Funding Database

Discover funding opportunities for your project that elevate the sustainability and resilience of Long Island Sound communities.

New York State
Connecticut State
Funding/Grants

Funding

: Jan 22 – Jun 1, 2023

Variable

William E. and Maude S. Pritchard Charitable Trust

The Trust funding interests include: Community development (affordable housing, economic development), Community-based health care (primary care access and delivery), Education (early education, K-12 public schools), the Environment (land and water conservation, parks and gardens), and Social services (hunger, immigration, seniors, youth development).

New York State
Habitat
Water Quality
Recreation & Access
Wetlands

Funding

: Mar 1 – May 12, 2023

$25,000-$150,000

Water Quality Planning Grants (604b)

Clean Water Act Section 604(b) Water Quality Planning Grants fund regional comprehensive water quality management planning activities as described in Section 604(b) of the federal Clean Water Act. 604(b) funds are to be used for water quality management planning activities, such as determining the nature, extent and causes of point and nonpoint source water pollution problems, and developing plans to resolve these problems.

DEC typically issues a Request for Applications (RFA) every 3-5 years and awards funds to multi-year projects.

New York State
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Planning
Waste Management

Funding

: Jan 22, 2025

Non-monetary Award

Trees for Tribs

NYSDEC’s Trees for Tribs is a statewide program that works to reforest NY’s tributaries and create or improve riparian buffers that decrease erosion, reduce flooding damage, improve wildlife and stream habitat, and protect water quality.

New York State
Erosion
Habitat

Funding

: Jan 22, 2025

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