Greenway Communities and Compact Grant

The Hudson River Valley Greenway administers a set of grant programs designed to support municipalities and counties within the Hudson River Valley in advancing projects that align with the Greenway’s five core criteria: natural and cultural resource protection, economic development, public access, regional planning, and heritage and environmental education. The Greenway was established to foster collaboration across communities in the Hudson River Valley while encouraging growth that balances environmental and cultural preservation with responsible economic development. The Greenway Communities Grant Program provides matching funds for municipalities designated as Greenway Communities. These grants assist in planning or implementing projects consistent with the Greenway criteria. Communities may apply as single municipal applicants, with a maximum award of $20,000, or as intermunicipal projects involving more than one community, with a maximum award of $30,000. The intent of these grants is to empower local governments to plan strategically while integrating environmental and cultural priorities into their economic development activities. The Greenway Compact Grant Program is aimed at municipalities and counties seeking to develop or update a Greenway Compact, a comprehensive strategy aligning local policies with the Greenway Act and criteria. Under this program, municipalities may apply for up to $50,000 in funding to develop, approve, and implement a compact strategy. Additionally, counties are eligible for larger awards under this program, with up to $100,000 available for developing a new Greenway Compact and up to $75,000 for updating an existing one. These grants strengthen regional planning by supporting long-term, sustainable strategies across multiple jurisdictions. Applications for the Fall 2025 round of Community Grants open on September 8, 2025, with a submission deadline of October 31, 2025. Award announcements are expected by December 10, 2025. Applicants must submit their materials through the Hudson River Valley Greenway’s online grants platform. A completed Grant Application Budget Form, available from the program website, must be uploaded along with the application. Applications lacking this required document will not be considered eligible. Detailed instructions for registering as a new applicant in the online system are also available. The funding provided by these programs must be used to further projects that support the balance of development and preservation as outlined in the Greenway criteria. Priority is often given to intermunicipal and county-level projects that encourage collaboration and generate regional impact. Higher award ceilings for county-level compact development and updates reflect the broader scale and influence of these initiatives. All grants under these programs require a matching contribution from the applicants, although the exact percentage or calculation method is not specified in the materials provided. Eligibility for these programs is limited to municipalities and counties designated as Greenway Communities or Compact Communities within the Hudson River Valley. This includes city, township, and county governments located within the designated Greenway area. Individual applicants, nonprofits, businesses, and entities outside the Greenway boundaries are not eligible to apply directly. By maintaining this eligibility structure, the Greenway ensures that resources are targeted toward local governments with the ability to implement and sustain community and regional planning projects. Overall, the Greenway grant programs provide an opportunity for municipalities and counties within the Hudson River Valley to fund projects that integrate preservation with economic growth. The structured application process, required budget form, and clear award timelines provide applicants with guidance and predictability. These programs represent a consistent investment in sustaining the cultural and environmental character of the Hudson River Valley while allowing communities to pursue forward-looking development strategies consistent with the Greenway Act and criteria .

Applicants must upload a completed Grant Application Budget Form through the HRVG online application system for eligibility.