Hudson River Estuary Grants for River Access Round 49

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is requesting applications for Hudson River Estuary Grants for River Access Round 49, with applications due December 17, 2026 by 3:00 p.m. EST through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. This is a grant program, not a traditional procurement, with eligibility limited to 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations, governmental entities, municipalities, quasi-governmental entities, public benefit corporations, public authorities, soil and water conservation districts, school districts, and universities and colleges.

Projects must implement Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda priorities to improve public access to tidal waters for fishing, swimming, boating, and wildlife-dependent recreation, with emphasis on universal accessibility and storm resiliency. All projects must be located within defined Hudson River Estuary watershed boundaries and completed between September 1, 2027, and August 31, 2030. Construction projects must have all required permits in place at application submission. Projects must comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, environmental review and coastal consistency requirements where applicable, and flood resiliency standards for sites in the 100-year or 500-year floodplain.

Approximately $250,000 in funding is available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, with minimum grants of $10,500 and maximum grants of $100,000 per project. Applicants must provide a minimum 10% match of grant funds; projects providing 15% or more match receive additional scoring points. Eligible match sources include cash from non-state and non-federal sources, personal services, contractual services, supplies, equipment, and volunteer labor. Personal services are capped at 20% of the requested budget, with administrative salaries not exceeding 10%. Applicants may submit up to two applications. The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) goal is 6%, and the Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) goal is 30%. Questions close December 10, 2026. An informational webinar is scheduled October 8, 2026 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. EST. Award announcements are anticipated for approximately June 2027.