Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund, a competitive grant program dedicated to supporting capital improvement projects for municipal and incorporated not-for-profit animal care facilities across New York. This fund aims to enhance the secure containment, health, and care of sheltered dogs and cats by funding structural and equipment upgrades. The program specifically targets municipal shelters and qualifying non-municipal rescue facilities that provide comparable shelter services and are registered with the Department. Facilities operating from residential locations are ineligible. The grant supports capital expenditures including construction, renovation, rehabilitation, installation, acquisition, and expansion of buildings, facilities, or equipment essential to animal care and sheltering. Examples include HVAC systems, drainage systems, and animal housing infrastructure. Projects must be capable of completion within three years of contract start, and all grant-funded expenditures must fall within eligible cost categories. A minimum match of 10% of total project cost is required and must be provided in cash; matching funds must also align with eligible cost uses. The maximum award is $500,000 and the minimum is $20,000, with a total of $10 million available. Of this amount, $1 million is reserved for facilities in underserved municipalities or regions that are not operated by or under contract with municipalities. Applicants must apply through the Statewide Financial System (SFS) Vendor Portal. All proposals must be submitted electronically by 4:00 p.m. local time on January 30, 2026. Late, mailed, faxed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted. Eligible not-for-profit applicants must be registered and prequalified in SFS at the time of submission. The application package must include responses to detailed programmatic questions, a work plan, and a project budget. Required documents include evidence of matching funds and construction plans. Technical assistance is available via the SFS Help Desk. Applications will be evaluated based on three weighted criteria: Need Assessment (48 points), Project Description and Work Plan (27 points), and Reasonableness of Cost (20 points). Proposals receiving below 62 points will not be considered. Preference points (up to 5) are awarded for projects providing more than the required 10% match. Two ranked award categories are used: municipal shelters and non-municipal shelters serving underserved areas. Tie-breakers prioritize projects with lower funding requests or higher match contributions. The anticipated award date is March 3, 2026, and contracts are expected to start on July 1, 2026. Funded projects will operate under a three-year contract term with additional time allowed for administration and final reporting. Payment will be made on a reimbursement basis, except for a possible 25% initial payment upon contract approval. Awardees are subject to quarterly and final reporting requirements, and performance will be monitored for compliance. Additional compliance requirements include state-level nondiscrimination policies, MWBE and SDVOB participation expectations, and insurance coverage requirements.

Start early due to SFS prequalification timelines and technical requirements; provide detailed floor plans and itemized vendor quotes; ensure match funds are documented; secure all required permits.