Regenerate New York 2026 - Large Projects

The Regenerate New York Forestry Cost Share Grant Program – Large Projects offers substantial financial support to promote forest regeneration, resiliency, and health across privately owned lands in rural New York State. Administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and funded through the USDA Forest Service Forest Landowner Support Initiative and the Environmental Protection Fund, this Round 5 funding cycle provides up to $5.08 million in total funding. The grant targets both new and existing forestland management projects that demonstrate sound stewardship practices. It is designed to address critical challenges facing New York’s forests, including overbrowsing by deer, invasive species, pest outbreaks, and a lack of natural regeneration due to competing vegetation and climate pressures. This program focuses on five eligible practices to support healthy forest ecosystems: afforestation and reforestation, regeneration silviculture for early successional habitat, forest health resiliency thinning, competing vegetation control, and deer exclosures. All projects must address a minimum of 5 contiguous acres and incorporate at least one of these approved practices. Successful applicants must partner with a forester or natural resource professional to develop detailed practice plans that reflect ecological priorities and site-specific needs. A new performance-based payment structure facilitates financial support through milestone-driven disbursements, allowing awardees to receive 75% of funds upfront each year, with follow-up payments made upon completion and review of annual work reports. A final 10% holdback ensures compliance and maintenance after the project concludes. Eligible applicants include non-industrial private landowners with fewer than 2,500 acres, land trusts, not-for-profit organizations, state or federally recognized Indian Nations or Tribes, and organizations or companies acting on behalf of landowners, such as soil and water conservation districts or forestry professionals. Administrative and project sponsors are permitted under clearly defined partnership structures and must demonstrate both authority and responsibility to carry out the proposed work. Projects must be located in federally designated rural areas of New York, as verified through a USDA eligibility map. Each applicant may submit multiple bids, provided they apply to separate properties, with a maximum grant amount of $1 million per project and a required 10% match in either cash or in-kind contributions. Applications must be submitted via the Statewide Financial System (SFS) Vendor Portal by 3:00 p.m. ET on August 31, 2026. Priority funding is reserved through March 10, 2026, for projects involving first-time landowners (less than 10 years of ownership), active or veteran military members, and Indian Nations or Tribes. Projects focused on large-scale tree planting or addressing degraded forest stands due to pests or disease also qualify for reserved funds. The earliest possible start date for approved projects is May 1, 2026, and all work must be completed no later than July 1, 2029, with final inspections and reporting due before December 15, 2029. No time extensions beyond this date will be granted. The application process requires multiple uploads, including a completed practice template, detailed workplan, budget workbook, cost estimates, and supporting documentation for ownership, partnerships, or subcontracted work. Required compliance documents include a Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification, Executive Order No. 16 Certification, and a Gender-Based Violence and Workplace Certification. Projects using herbicides must submit an Herbicide Application Plan. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis in two phases, with notification of award provided by email. The first award phase concludes on March 10, 2026, after which reserved funding restrictions will lift and remaining funds will be awarded until exhausted or the final deadline. Program inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or by phone at (518) 402-9264. The official Request for Applications (RFA) can be found at https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/regennyrfa.pdf.

Projects must adhere to SFS formatting, provide all required certifications, and follow USDA standards. Missing documents result in automatic disqualification.