The Peru Gazette

Includes $516,000 for North County Communities

Albany, NYS DEC News Release of Jan. 2, 2026 – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced $22.7 million in Climate Smart Communities Grant awards for 43 projects to help municipalities take action to address climate change. This year’s funded projects reduce flood risk by retrofitting or relocating critical infrastructure, support decreasing transportation emissions through cycling and walkability projects, reduce emissions from food waste and landfills, and undertake engineering feasibility studies to advance future climate projects, among many other actions.

Funding for the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant Program is supported by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the State’s Environmental Protection Fund, which was increased to a record $425 million in the 2025-26 State Budget. Since the program’s inception in 2016, DEC awarded more than $109 million to municipalities through the CSC Grant program in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects.

As part of the CSC Grant Program, municipalities are required to provide a local match of 50 percent of the total costs for most projects. Last year’s New York State budget made grants more accessible to more communities by authorizing DEC to provide up to 80 percent of the cost for municipal projects that meet criteria for financial hardship and for projects located in disadvantaged communities.

The full list of grant awards include:

NORTH COUNTRY 

Lewis County – $129,048 – East Martinsburg Road Flood Study

Lewis County will complete an engineering study for a repetitive flood area along East Martinsburg Road. The study will evaluate options to reduce the risks of flooding, enhance community safety for residents, first responders, and the surrounding sensitive wetland area, as well as improve water quality and habitat along the Black River.

and -$60,028 – Dam Analysis for Flood Resilience 

Lewis County will conduct an engineering study on two small local dams to determine the existing conditions and viable alternatives for reuse and rehabilitation. Flooding in summer 2024 renewed community concerns about the longevity of these dams. The feasibility study will assess the possibility for rehabilitating the structures for mechanical or hydroelectric power generation and fire suppression water supply.

Town of Plattsburgh – $100,000 – Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements; Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience; Plan for Biking and Walking

Plattsburgh will develop a comprehensive plan with sustainability elements. As part of this effort, the town will also evaluate policies for climate resilience and prepare a plan for biking and walking.  The plan will provide a foundation for updating zoning, implementing policies to expand housing availability, multi-modal transportation and address community health and equity issues.

Warren County – $74,927 – Climate Resilient Rural Stormwater Management

Warren County will conduct a culvert assessment and inventory for its local municipalities. The assessment will focus on high-priority flood-prone areas, identified using federal, state, and county flood data with input from municipal Highway Superintendents. The result will be a centrally managed GIS database housed and maintained by the Warren County GIS program. This shared platform will enable strategic, data-driven decision-making across jurisdictions, helping municipalities prioritize rural stormwater projects through the lens of resiliency.

Village of Saranac Lake – $72,000 – Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Adaptation Plan 

Saranac Lake will create a climate vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation plan. Climate change threatens the town’s outdoor-focused tourism economy, economic wellbeing, public health, and long-term sustainability. These plans will be created to bolster climate preparedness, social cohesion, and economic longevity.

Village of Canton – $50,000 – Climate Adaptive Stormwater Conveyance System Upgrade Study

Canton will complete an engineering feasibility study to assess and plan upgrades to its stormwater infrastructure. The village’s stormwater system is aging, fragmented, and undersized for today’s more frequent, intense storms. The study will use hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to analyze sub-catchments, identify capacity issues, and estimate pollutant loads.

Town of Colton – $50,000 – Wastewater Infrastructure Resiliency Upgrades 

Colton will line all sewer system manholes located along Gulf Road in the Raquette River floodplain. This will prevent stormwater intrusion into the sewer system and the amount of water flowing to the wastewater treatment plant. The project helps reduce or prevent sewer overflows, the risk of water quality violations, and damage to the Raquette River ecosystem.

Town of Jay – $30,000 – Complete Streets Policy and Planning for Biking and Walking

Jay will develop a complete streets policy and a biking and walking plan to improve transportation safety, accessibility, and sustainability. The project will be conducted townwide.

CAPITAL DISTRICT

Town of Niskayuna – $500,000 – Sidewalks to School – Birchwood and Hillside 

The town of Niskayuna will install five-foot-wide sidewalks near Birchwood and Hillside Elementary Schools to provide a safe option for students to walk to school, decreasing the number of vehicle miles traveled and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Both schools lack sidewalk infrastructure in the areas surrounding their campuses, which discourages walking to school from the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Village of Philmont – $33,600 – Natural Resources Inventory 

The village of Philmont will complete a natural resource inventory for the entire town of Claverack. The village will coalesce all the natural resources data into one source that is easily accessible for the town, village, and county.

CENTRAL NEW YORK

City of Fulton – $527,080 – 4th, 5th, 7th, and Fay Street Sidewalks 

The city of Fulton will repair 1,522 linear feet of sidewalk along 7th, and Fay Streets and build new sidewalks on Fay, 4th, and 5^th streets. The new sidewalks will connect to a series of existing sidewalks and a trail that lead to the downtown center and Kiwanis Park, allowing people to avoid driving a distance that is easily walkable.

Oswego County – $171,060 – Climate Emergency Response Resource Enhancement 

Oswego County will implement a multi-agency project to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities for climate-related hazards such as flooding, extreme temperatures, and prolonged power outages. The project will provide deployable emergency response and mass care equipment to support residents across the county, with a focus on reaching disadvantaged communities.

Town of Tully – $72,578 – Route 80 Sidewalk Project

Tully will construct 2,230 feet of new sidewalk along County Route 80, ending at Route 281. This new stretch of sidewalk will connect to an existing system of sidewalks in the village center that currently end at the Tully High School, allowing pedestrians a safe walking route from the village center to several commercial outlets in the town.

City of Syracuse – $52,000 – Natural Resources Inventory

Syracuse will create a natural resource inventory to inform effective land use planning, environmental preservation projects, natural area protection, advance climate resiliency goals, and inform the public about leveraging the benefits of natural environmental resources.

FINGER LAKES

City of Rochester – $780,000 – Dewey Avenue Cycle Track Implementation 

Rochester will construct continuous off-street cycle tracks during the larger Dewey Avenue and Emerson Street Reconstruction and Realignment Project. The proposed sidewalk-level cycle tracks will improve non-motorized transportation in a busy area lacking multi-modal facilities. The cycle tracks are part of Rochester’s goal to construct a 63-mile bicycle spine network helping achieve a reduction in vehicle miles traveled and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

City of Geneva – $60,000 – Daylighting Castle Creek Feasibility Study

Geneva will complete an engineering feasibility study and preliminary engineering report evaluating the daylighting of Castle Creek between Main Street and Bicentennial Park. The study will assess climate change impacts on the creek and compare the cost, feasibility, and long-term resilience of daylighting the creek versus upgrading existing underground culverts, prioritizing nature-based solutions where practicable.

Ontario County – $60,000 – Organics Management Plan  

Ontario County will develop an organics management plan. The plan is urgently needed as the county has committed to ceasing operation of the Ontario County landfill by the end of 2028, requiring increased waste diversion and advancing sustainability. The plan will provide critical baseline information such as organic waste volumes, gaps in infrastructure, existing programs, and opportunities to increase diversion of organic waste, reduce emissions, and decrease the total volume of waste needing to be landfilled post-closure.

LONG ISLAND

Town of Brookhaven – $500,000 – Land Acquisition – East Patchogue

The town of Brookhaven will acquire a parcel of land for open space preservation and flood risk reduction.

Town of East Hampton – $200,000 – Natural Resources Inventory 

The town of East Hampton will develop a natural resource inventory that will be a centralized data repository for the development of conservation and land management strategies and serve as a foundation for good land use planning.

Village of Garden City – $40,000 – Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Fleet Inventory, and Fleet Efficiency Policy 

This project addresses Garden City’s lack of baseline emissions data and fleet management framework. These foundational assessments will identify emission sources and establish procurement standards, enabling the village to prioritize cost-effective reduction strategies.

MID-HUDSON 

City of Beacon – $2,000,000 – Melzingah Reservoir Dam Rehabilitation

Beacon will rehabilitate the Melzingah Reservoir Dam, a Class C High Hazard structure. The remediation meets requirements to safely pass 50% of the probable maximum precipitation adjusted for climate scenarios over 10-, 20-, and 30-year horizons. The design specifically addresses the increasing intensity and frequency of 100-year storms by raising the dam’s crest and increasing spillway capacity to handle more runoff and peak flows.

Village of Briarcliff Manor – $1,972,903 – Law Park Drainage Basin Phase 3

Briarcliff Manor will right-size stormwater conveyance piping as part of the third and final phase of the Law Park Drainage project. This project will alleviate flooding caused by undersized drainage infrastructure. This project delivers a right-sized stormwater management system designed to convey the flows of the 25-year storm plus an additional 20% increase in peak flow to account for the increase in storm intensity due to climate change.

City of Peekskill – $1,775,436 – Paramount Theatre Cooling Center 

Peekskill will upgrade the HVAC system at the historic Paramount Theatre, centrally located in downtown Peekskill, and designate it as a cooling center to offer the community a reliable refuge from the health and safety risks associated with increasingly severe heat waves. Additionally, the improved HVAC will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.

Town of Clarkstown – $1,590,933 – Prospect and Church Street Sidewalks

Clarkstown will install approximately 4,000 linear feet of sidewalks on Prospect and Church streets connecting the residential neighborhoods on either side of the Main Street corridor with the downtown Nanuet business district and the commuter rail station. This project is a key component of the town’s new Transit Oriented Development zoning district, which allows for the construction of 750 residential units within walking distance from the commuter train station and downtown hamlet center.

Village of Tannersville – $1,166,400 – DPW Relocation Project

Tannersville will relocate the Department of Public Works garage out of the 100-year floodplain of the Gooseberry Creek. The new facility will be a shared with the town of Hunter and the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District and be built on a Town parcel outside of the floodplain. During Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, floodwaters reached approximately 36 feet within the building.

Village of Hastings-on-Hudson – $1,156,894 – Ravensdale Pedestrian and Bike Improvements

Hastings-on-Hudson will install a five-foot-wide sidewalk and two four-foot-wide bicycle lanes along Ravensdale Road and a five-foot-wide sidewalk along Saw Mill River Road. The new infrastructure creates a continuous system connecting schools, the train station, bus stops, downtown, and recreation facilities. The project also fills a gap in connection to the South County Trail (Empire State Trail) enabling cyclists and runners to access the trail without driving. This connection may facilitate alternative forms of transportation between Westchester County communities, including supporting residents who commute to work by bicycle.

Village of Irvington – $550,000 – Train Station Connectivity Project

Irvington will install 5-foot-wide sidewalks on South Buckhout Street, connecting the residential neighborhoods of Half Moon and Spiro Park with the Metro North train station. This project is critical due to the residential development of three large parcels on South Buckhout Street and a planned transit-oriented design zoning district in the area. The project will address a large gap in pedestrian infrastructure that exists along a busy vehicular route that deters walking, helping reduce vehicle travel to the train station and related greenhouse gas emissions.

Town of Ramapo – $418,864 – Climate Smart Parks

Ramapo will install permanent shade structures over existing playground and recreational areas in the town’s parks. These recreational areas currently see significantly reduced usage during summer months due to high temperatures and lack of sun protection, creating accessibility and safety concerns especially for young children and families.

City of Kingston – $400,000 – Early Flood Warning System

Kingston will develop an early flood warning and alert system for a neighborhood along the Rondout Creek that experiences repetitive flooding. The system will send notifications to residents and city emergency departments. The city will also develop a flood response plan for government activities that will be activated when flooding is expected.

Village of Mamaroneck – $115,304 – Emergency Operations Preparedness, Planning, and Training Project

Mamaroneck will install flood gauges and cameras at key points along the Mamaroneck, Sheldrake, and Beaver Swamp Rivers; develop a comprehensive emergency operations plan; and coordinate training for local response teams. Mamaroneck is situated in a densely developed floodplain that has repeatedly faced severe storms and coastal surges. These tools are crucial for issuing timely alerts, coordinating evacuations, and reducing risks to lives, property, and infrastructure during more frequent and intense weather events resulting from climate change.

and – $52,000- Municipal Fleet Inventory and Efficiency Planning Project 

Mamaroneck will conduct a comprehensive fleet inventory and develop a municipal fleet efficiency policy to support the transition to a low-emission municipal fleet. Once the fleet inventory is completed, the village will conduct a rightsizing analysis to evaluate vehicle utilization with operational needs.

City of New Rochelle – $112,500 – Citywide Tree Plantings

New Rochelle will implement a citywide tree planting initiative to enhance climate resilience by planting approximately 400 climate-adapted street and park trees in disadvantaged community neighborhoods, with a focus on public rights-of-way, sidewalks, and parks. The project addresses urban heat, stormwater runoff, and public health disparities while advancing long-term climate adaptation benefits.

Town of Poughkeepsie – $80,000 – New Hamburg Flooding Engineering Study 

Poughkeepsie will complete an engineering study to evaluate flood control options in the hamlet of New Hamburg. This study will evaluate alternatives, provide scoping and cost details, technical and regulatory considerations, and develop 30% design plans for five projects recommended in the more general New Hamburg Flood Study Report.

Town of Woodstock – $46,567 – Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan

Woodstock will develop a comprehensive bike and pedestrian master plan covering the hamlet center and extending westward toward the hamlet of Bearsville. The study will assess current infrastructure conditions, identify barriers to safe and accessible non-motorized travel, and develop a strategic plan to improve walkability, bikeability, and multimodal circulation.

Town of Pine Plains – $15,000 – Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Pine Plains will complete a government operations greenhouse gas inventory, which will fill critical data gaps and provide the emissions baselines necessary to guide future climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

NEW YORK CITY

New York City Department of Small Business Services – $1,995,638 – Hunts Point Food Distribution Center Floodproofing 

New York City Department of Small Business Services will floodproof a critical food distribution facility building in the Bronx. Meat Market Building D houses the electrical infrastructure that provides the entire market with power and is highly vulnerable to coastal flooding. This project will dry-floodproof Building D through structural reinforcement, waterproofing, and flood barriers that provide 100-year level flood protection and account for 90th percentile of sea level rise through the 2050s.

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) – $1,614,012 – Heat Adaptation in the Public Realm

New York City DOT will implement shade structures, misting features, and/or drinking water features at 19 different pedestrian areas in various heat vulnerable neighborhoods. The project will help residents of disadvantaged communities reduce heat exposure in the summer and enhance neighborhood livability year-round.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – $869,354 – Air Conditioner Recycling Program

The Air Conditioner (AC) Recycling Program will safely reclaim refrigerant from AC’s made redundant by installation of heat pumps for heating and cooling as part of “Clean Heat for All,” a comprehensive building electrification effort at New York City Housing Authority communities located in disadvantaged communities. Over five years, an estimated 4,000 AC units will be recovered and refrigerant will be removed, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

SOUTHERN TIER

Village of Lansing – $572,139 – Uptown and Craft Roads Sidewalk Connectivity Project

Lansing will construct approximately 3,335 linear feet of sidewalk along Uptown and Craft roads. The new sidewalks will connect two apartment complexes, two public bus stops, the Triphammer Marketplace, three municipal parks, the Lansing trails neighborhood, and several health and medical care facilities. Filling in these gaps will create a more complete pedestrian system allowing for the reduction in vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Town of Chenango – $90,000 – 2025-2035 Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements Update

Chenango will update its 2015 comprehensive plan to incorporate concepts related to sustainability, climate change adaptation, and smart growth for the community over the next 10- to 20-year planning cycle.

WESTERN NEW YORK

Erie County – $1,885,231 – Refrigerant Collection and Disposal Program

Erie County will partner with local municipalities and several local scrap metal recyclers to develop a refrigerant collection and disposal program. The program will include in-home pickups for individuals with limited mobility, collection at municipal events, a collection program for schools and local governments, and two drop-off events per year in disadvantaged communities. The city will also work with recyclers to promote incentives for the collection of appliances to avoid accidental or purposeful release of greenhouse gases.

Town of Lancaster – $375,000 – Cool Down Lancaster

The Town of Lancaster will install a safe, accessible, and engaging splash pad at Westwood Park. The proposed facility will provide a cool-down recreational opportunity during extreme heat events for residents of all ages and abilities. The project will offer active water features for children and a mist tent for seniors and adults that will allow cooling without becoming soaked by water. The project area is located near populations vulnerable to extreme heat including low-income neighborhoods, senior citizens, and people with disabilities.

Village of Lancaster – $310,492 – Renewable Energy Resilience Initiative 

The Village of Lancaster will install solar panels on the roof of the public works building to generate clean energy and reduce operational costs. As part of the solar panel installation, the village will install battery storage. This project is one component of the village’s larger goal to increase renewable energy adoption and achieve climate change mitigation goals.

The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program is one component of the larger, interagency CSC Program that was established in 2009. To date, more than 465 local governments representing more than 17.9 million New Yorkers, or 92% of the population, have committed to mitigating and adapting to climate change by adopting the CSC pledge. This interagency effort is jointly sponsored by DEC, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Power Authority, Department of State, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Service, and Division of Homes and Community Renewal.

Since 2014, DEC has managed the CSC Certification Program with the support of these partner agencies. Starting in 2016, the CSC Grant Program has funded projects that help municipalities earn points under the CSC Certification Program. At present there are more than 165 local governments that have gone above and beyond the CSC pledge to achieve certification. DEC also provides free technical assistance to local governments through the regional CSC coordinators. Find out more on the Climate Smart Communities webpage.

About the Consolidated Funding Application         

The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the Consolidated Funding Application.

About the Regional Economic Development Councils   

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more on the Regional Economic Development Councils website.