The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the 2025 Adirondack and Catskill Park Community Smart Growth Grant Program – Round 8. This funding opportunity is part of New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and supports capital projects and community development initiatives within the unique conditions of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. A total of $3.8 million is available, with $2.8 million allocated to Adirondack Park projects and $1 million to Catskill Park projects. The grant aims to promote smart growth principles by aligning environmental protection with economic development and community livability. Eligible applicants include municipalities and not-for-profit organizations, with a strong emphasis placed on partnership between nonprofits and municipalities.
The program supports both the implementation of existing plans and the development of new comprehensive or local land use plans. It is a reimbursement-based grant requiring that all expenditures fall within a three-year contract period, projected from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029. A minimum award request is $25,000, with a standard maximum of $125,000. Transformative projects may request up to $300,000, but must achieve a higher evaluation threshold of 80 points to qualify for that amount. Bidders are limited to one application per round. Notably, only 25% of funds can be awarded to not-for-profit organizations as lead applicants.
Eligible bidders include counties, towns, and villages within or partially within the Adirondack or Catskill Parks. Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) and certain 501(c)(4) organizations are eligible if they partner with a municipality and demonstrate legal and operational independence. All applications must be submitted through the New York State SFS Grants Management System. Not-for-profits must be prequalified through the system before submission. Applicants must also provide documentation regarding project site access and land ownership, permitting requirements, and compliance with SEQR, ADA, and other regulations as applicable.
Applications are evaluated in two stages: a pass/fail eligibility screening and a detailed scoring review. The scoring rubric allocates up to 100 points, based on criteria such as alignment with park-specific conditions, environmental quality, community impact, tourism enhancement, economic sustainability, planning support, readiness, cost effectiveness, and more. Comprehensive plan bids have a separate scoring pathway and are not eligible for the Transformative award level. Additional points are awarded for environmental justice considerations, Climate Smart Communities, and use of optional matching funds, although matching is not required.
The application portal opens on July 17, 2025. A webinar for applicants will be held on July 23, 2025. The question and answer period closes on September 30, 2025, and final applications are due by October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET. Awards are expected to be announced in December 2025 or January 2026. Contact for programmatic inquiries is dlfgrants@dec.ny.gov, while technical support is available through helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov or via phone at 877-737-4185.
Submit prequalification early; bundle uploads as single PDFs; justify budget; prioritize accessibility; get municipal support letters
