Supporting Environmentally Sustainable, Resilient, and Just Communities Across Downstate New York

From the densely populated streets of New York City to the agricultural lands and waterways of Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley, downstate counties share food, water, energy, and transportation infrastructure that crosses political boundaries. Regional collaboration has the potential to address many of the region’s shared environmental challenges—intensifying climate change, opposition to clean energy, and damaging agricultural practices. Regional collaboration also can help communities benefit from opportunities such as growing interest in community solar or the development of offshore wind resources in the Atlantic. In addition, it can address common barriers to success, identify gaps and inconsistencies in local policies, and promote partnerships among nonprofits focused on solving these challenges and pursuing new opportunities.

This year, staff request regional proposals for projects focused on one of three environmental and climate-related issues:

1. Sustainable food systems: producing, distributing, procuring, and disposing of food in ways that create jobs, meet nutritional needs, and provide food security for all without compromising the well-being of people or the planet now or in the future;
2. Climate-resilient housing and land use planning: the planning, building, or rehabilitation of single and multifamily housing to protect against climate-related threats (including sea level rise, extreme weather events, and power interruption) while prioritizing safety, energy efficiency, a highly skilled workforce, and environmental sustainability; or
3. Community development driven by renewable energy: green jobs, promoting local economic vitality by deploying solar, wind, and/or geothermal power, electric vehicles, and similar technologies to benefit communities.

These efforts may include any combination of:

• Advocacy and lobbying in support of needed systemic change, including policy/legislation, financing practices, or market-based campaigns;
• Practical research to inform policy and budget decisions; and
• Planning and program development (proposals for planning alone are unlikely to be competitive).

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Clearly demonstrate a regional approach to address a challenge or opportunity.
• Include partners that have a demonstrated history of serving and/or advocating on behalf of communities across New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley.
• Have clear activities that are well-designed to achieve the project’s goals during the grant period.
• Promote systemic change and/or provide tangible benefits for downstate residents.
• Are informed by and inclusive of residents who typically do not have access to policy and/or decision makers.