HRE Local Stewardship Planning Round 47

Since 1999, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has administered the Hudson River Estuary Program Grants, a funding initiative designed to support municipalities and nonprofit organizations located within the boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary watershed. The program draws its funding from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund and seeks to advance priorities identified in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021–2025. Over the years, the program has awarded 664 grants totaling more than $30.5 million. Its purpose is to enhance water quality, increase climate resilience, improve environmental education, and encourage stewardship of natural habitats and resources within the estuary region. The program provides financial assistance to local partners for projects that are most effectively implemented at the community level. This includes efforts to restore tributaries, conserve critical habitats, plan for climate adaptation, and strengthen environmental literacy through educational programming. Eligible projects must be located within the Hudson River Estuary watershed boundaries, which can be confirmed using the program’s interactive boundary map or natural resource mapper tools. Projects outside of this geographic range are not considered for funding. Applicants must be either governmental entities or nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation. Eligible governmental applicants include counties, cities, towns, villages, recognized Indian nations or tribes with reservations within New York State, as well as public benefit corporations, public authorities, municipal corporations, school districts, community colleges, soil and water conservation districts, and special district governments. Nonprofit applicants must be prequalified through the New York State Grants Management system before submitting an application. Registration and guidance materials are available through the State Financial System website, and assistance is provided through a dedicated helpdesk and training portal. Applications for the 2025 cycle are currently open under two funding streams: Local Stewardship Planning Grants and River Education Grants. These opportunities are accompanied by recorded webinars from March 2025 that provide background on successful projects and guidance for applicants. While no specific pre-application deadlines such as letters of intent are indicated, the application process requires complete submission of all forms and documentation by the posted close date. Reporting is mandatory for awardees and follows the state fiscal year schedule, with quarterly progress and financial reports due at the end of July, October, January, and April. Final reports, including deliverables and financial reconciliations, are required at project completion. All funded recipients are expected to comply with New York State reporting requirements. These include quarterly technical progress reports, financial vouchers, expenditure summaries, and documentation of matching contributions if applicable. Reports must be submitted electronically to the designated program contact. Not-for-profits may request up to 25 percent of their grant in advance through the State Aid Voucher system. Program guidelines also provide templates for tracking staff time, donated labor, materials, and equipment. Deliverables and supporting documentation must be submitted with both interim and final reports. The Hudson River Estuary Program is managed from the DEC regional office in New Paltz, New York. Program contact is available by phone at 845-256-3016 or by email at hrep@dec.ny.gov. The program emphasizes community partnership, accountability, and alignment with state priorities for the protection and sustainable use of the estuary’s natural resources. With more than two decades of history and an active funding pipeline, this grant program represents a key opportunity for local organizations and governments within the watershed to access state resources in support of long-term environmental and community goals.