$20 million in funding is available through the second round of the Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grant Program. The goal of CoRe is to support tree planting projects that will expand and restore forested natural areas in urban communities across the state.
This grant opportunity is available to municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, not-for-profit organizations, Indian Nations or Tribes, and state agencies.
Eligible projects for this round include planting trees; preparing sites for planting; removing competing or invasive vegetation that would interfere with seedling growth; and installing tree protection to prevent deer browse.
Applicants may apply for a minimum amount of $300,000 up to a maximum of $3 million, with no match required. Up to $4 million of the total funding is available for smaller projects (projects with a maximum funding request of $499,999). The remaining $16 million will be dedicated to larger projects.
Applications will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 and must be submitted through the SFS Grants Management System.
DEC will host a webinar on Thursday, August 20, from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. to provide grant details and answer questions about this funding opportunity. Registration is required to attend the webinar.
This grant round is funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.