The deadline to submit applications is 3 p.m. EST on August 13, 2025.

$5.9 million is now available to help communities facing environmental justice challenges implement innovative and effective projects to address environmental concerns. Funding for the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants is provided by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) as part of New York State’s impactful Environmental Justice agenda.

Since 2006, DEC has awarded nearly $17 million in Community Impact Grants to community-based organizations for projects engaging their communities around environmental justice issues and deploying community driven solutions.

Community-based organizations can apply to receive up to $200,000 in funding for projects that address environmental and public health concerns of residents in impacted neighborhoods. Previous projects awarded by DEC have included public participatory science, community driven water and air quality monitoring, urban farming, habitat restoration, tree plantings, curriculum development, green infrastructure installation and more. A list of all previously funded projects and their project descriptions are available on Open Data NY.

Read about how to get questions answered, application procedures and more in the full DEC press release.

Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Green Team hires Yonkers high school students for paid, hands-on conservation projects. Photo courtesy of Groundwork Hudson Valley.