Community Reforestation 2026

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is requesting applications for Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grants Round 2, with applications due November 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. through the Statewide Financial System Grants Management portal. Approximately $20 million is available; an informational webinar is scheduled for August 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., and the Q&A period closes October 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Eligible applicants are New York State municipalities, counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, Indian nations or tribes with reservations in New York State, and 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations with projects located within defined eligible geographic boundaries. Not-for-profit bidders must obtain prequalification status prior to submission. Up to $4 million is reserved for State agencies, State authorities, and State public benefit corporations. Of the remaining $16 million available to other eligible bidders, up to $4 million is designated for smaller projects ranging from $300,000 to $500,000.

Grant awards fund three eligible practice types: Afforestation/Reforestation, Forest Stand Restoration/Competing Vegetation Control, and Deer Exclosure/Fencing. All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables completed within a five-year contract period. The minimum grant is $300,000; the maximum is $3 million. This is a reimbursement grant requiring awardees to pay project costs upfront; advance payments of up to 25 percent may be available to not-for-profit grantees following full contract approval. Match funds are not required.

Evaluation is scored on project description and planning (22 points), number of trees to be planted (10 points), community outreach and engagement strategy (10 points), long-term planning (10 points), tree equity score (6 points), disadvantaged community status (6 points), and work plan details (6 points). Applicants must submit itemized, expenditure-based budgets with documentation of paid invoices, receipts, and cancelled checks. Funding derives from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Awards are anticipated by January 2027. Applicants are limited to one application submission, though multiple project sites may be included within a single application.