Several New York State agencies provide funding to support completion of Climate Smart Communities (CSC) certification actions, including the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA), and the Department of State (DOS). The descriptions of the certification actions on this website include references to the specific funding programs relevant to each action.
Grant applications for state funds from Registered and Certified Climate Smart Communities earn higher scores for some programs, including DEC’s CSC Grant Program.
Other grant opportunities outside of the CSC program can assist with projects aimed toward a CSC action item.
On April 24, 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the award of $144.3 million in funding to support bicycle, pedestrian, multi-use path and transportation-related projects and programs, as well as projects that reduce congestion, and will help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act.
2019 Southern Tier - $6.5 million
$535,004 to the Village of Cayuga Heights for the Walking Safe pedestrian accessibility enhancement program
$731,744 to Broome County for new pedestrian accessibility enhancements along Chenango Street in the Town of Fenton
$1,476,540 to the Town of Dryden to complete the construction of the Dryden Rail Trail
$850,400 to Chemung County to construct a new north-south bicycle friendly corridor
$1,197,884 to the City of Ithaca to construct the new Black Diamond Trail Bridge over Flood Control Channel
$1,709,600 to the Village of Stamford for new pedestrian accessibility enhancements along Main Street
2019 Climate smart communities grant awards
$198,818 Drainage Upgrades for Village of Deposit
Broome County will replace and upsize approximately 700 linear feet of closed drainage system in the Village of Deposit, including replacement of catch basins and cross drainage pipes. This project will address a flooding problem in a heavily developed section of the village due to undersized drainage pipes.
$45,000 Remote Watershed Monitoring
Broome County will install solar-powered remote monitoring devices at 25 flood control features throughout the county to better monitor conditions during storm and flood events that may require emergency notification and evacuation procedures.
$266,500 Giles Street Sidewalk Project
The Giles Street Sidewalk project will create 1,900 linear feet of new, ADA-compliant sidewalk connecting the South Hill and Belle Sherman neighborhoods and create a Safe Route to School for the two elementary schools within the corridor. Removing the missing link in the sidewalk system will also allow the neighborhoods to be connected to downtown and Cornell University.
$100,000 Green New Deal Action Plan
City of Ithaca will develop a road map to achieve carbon emission reduction goals as outlined in the Green New Deal by completing government operations greenhouse gas and fleet inventories and a community wide greenhouse gas inventory. This information will be used to inform a Green New Deal Action Plan.
$82,000 Water Treatment Plant Resiliency Improvements
The Village of Delhi will elevate a generator, fuel tank, and furnace in its water treatment plant to protect them from future flooding and guarantee operation of the plant during a flood event. The existing diesel-based system will be replaced with equipment that is more energy efficient and will produce fewer greenhouse gases.
$756,786 Cayuga Heights Road Culvert Right Sizing Project
The Village of Cayuga Heights will complete culvert upgrades to alleviate localized flooding and allow the construction of sidewalks along Cayuga Heights Road, one of the main thoroughfares in the village.
$25,000 Climate Vulnerability Assessment
The Village of Montour Falls will develop a climate vulnerability assessment that includes the Catharine Creek levee system and a climate adaptation plan identifying strategic long-term projects that will enhance the village's resilience to flooding, drought, and extreme temperatures.