Governor Hochul Announces $61 Million in Grants Awarded to Protect Flood-Prone Communities Across the State

$17.8 Million Invested in New York City, Including $10 Million for a Stormwater Upgrade in Brooklyn and Queens

Green Resiliency Grants Are Funded by Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022

Launches New One-Stop Website, resilient.ny.gov, To Help Easily Connect New Yorkers to Resiliency and Mitigation Resources

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $61 million in Green Resiliency Grant funding to advance eight transformative stormwater infrastructure projects across the state. Funded through the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, these grants deliver on Governor Hochul’s commitment to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather. From Long Island to Western New York, awarded projects will use nature-based solutions to better manage stormwater, reduce pressure on wastewater systems, and protect neighborhoods from the increasingly severe effects of storms.

“Too many communities have experienced the devastation of severe flooding, and that’s why we’re investing in resiliency initiatives to protect vulnerable areas and make our state stronger and more resilient,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re investing where it matters — not just reacting to the next storm, but preparing for it — protecting families and businesses in the process.”

New York City is receiving a combined $17.8 million to advance two major green infrastructure initiatives. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection will receive $10 million for the North and South Conduit Median Green Infrastructure Project in Brooklyn and Queens, which will capture and treat stormwater to ease pressure on the City’s sewer system and protect water quality in Jamaica Bay. In addition, a $7.9 million grant to the New York City Housing Authority will fund flood-mitigation measures at the Clinton Houses, reducing localized flooding, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and improving water quality in the Harlem River.

GRG is part of Governor Hochul’s comprehensive resiliency plan and actions to safeguard clean water. The program launched in 2024 as a Governor’s State of the State initiative, with $60 million awarded in the inaugural round. The grants are administered through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).

Awarded Funding:

• Buffalo Sewer Authority (Western NY) - $10 million to mitigate stormwater runoff with the installation of new bioretention and stormwater street trees. The project will help prevent combined sewer overflow events, improve water quality in Scajaquada Creek, and enhance resilience. New York State and the Buffalo Sewer Authority recently announced a historic commitment to significantly improve water quality in the Niagara River watershed, including the implementation of gray and green infrastructure projects at an estimated cost of $1 billion over a 15-year schedule, and this funding will help achieve those goals.
• Town of Brookhaven (Long Island) - $10 million for the Neighborhood Road Redevelopment Project, which will include bioretention, stormwater street trees, and underground stormwater storage systems. The improvements will help reduce flooding and protect water quality in Narrow Bay.
• City of Mount Vernon (Mid-Hudson) - $4.4 million for the Brush Park Green Infrastructure Project to install porous pavement, bioretention, and trees throughout a key recreation area. The project will help mitigate local flooding and enhance water quality in the Hutchinson River.
• New York City Housing Authority - $7.9 million for the Clinton Houses Cloudburst project to construct underground infiltration systems below basketball courts and parking lots. By capturing and filtering stormwater runoff on-site, the project will reduce flooding risks for residents, safeguard vital infrastructure, and lessen flows to New York City’s combined sewer system—ultimately improving water quality in the Harlem River.
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection - $10 million for the North and South Conduit Median Green Infrastructure Project in Brooklyn and Queens. The project will construct multiple bioretention areas to capture and treat stormwater, helping the City meet its 2030 goal of reducing combined sewer overflows and protecting the water quality of Jamaica Bay.
• City of Newburgh (Mid-Hudson) - $1.825 million for the Liberty Street Reconstruction Project, which will feature porous pavement, bioretention, and tree trenches. These upgrades will help the City meet its Long-Term Control Plan requirements by reducing combined sewer overflow and improving the health of the Hudson River.
• Village of Potsdam (North Country) - $8.975 million for stormwater detention and green infrastructure improvements, including the construction of multiple wet extended detention ponds. These measures will reduce flooding within the Village and improve the water quality of the Raquette River.
• Town of Rye (Mid-Hudson) - $8.1 million for the Rye Town Park Sustainability Project, which includes porous pavement, bioretention, rain barrels, stream daylighting, and drainage enhancements. These upgrades will help alleviate flooding and erosion while creating a safer, more sustainable park and beach along Long Island Sound.

Today’s announcement reflects the latest in Environmental Bond Act investments to enhance shoreline resiliency, encourage economic development, revitalize neighborhoods, and bolster recreational opportunities. New Yorkers overwhelmingly approved the Environmental Bond Act ballot proposition in November 2022 to make $4.2 billion available for environmental and community projects. State agencies, local governments, and partners can access this historic funding to protect water quality, mitigate the impacts of increasingly severe weather, and create green jobs.

Additionally, with the coastal storm season still underway and harsher winter weather on the horizon, Governor Hochul launched a new, comprehensive tool — resilient.ny.gov — to connect New Yorkers with the wide-ranging State investments and initiatives available to make their communities more resilient and adaptive to climate change.

The resilient.ny.gov website offers a centralized resilience platform — a one-stop shop for residents, businesses, and municipalities to find the resources, assistance, and funding opportunities needed to plan, adapt, and strengthen communities. The site features an easy-to-navigate directory that helps guide users to emergency planning information and programs like the Green Resiliency Grants announced today, among many other opportunities for grants, rebates, and incentives available across numerous state agencies and authorities. The site also includes information about how the State is planning ahead to meet future needs through the New York State Adaptation and Resilience Plan.

New York's Commitment to Water Quality

New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $3.4 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2025 alone.

With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY26 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $6 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. Any community needing assistance with water infrastructure projects is encouraged to contact EFC. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard.