ALBANY, NY (April 21, 2026) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the allocation of $6 million in Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants to 32 community-based organizations. This initiative aims to enhance the well-being of those most vulnerable to climate and pollution impacts.
The Energy Justice Law and Policy Center will receive $200,000 for a New Rochelle Youth Green Infrastructure Training Program and Nature Based Solutions Pilot. The center will train 60 New Rochelle youth (16-25) with paid opportunities to design, install, and steward street trees and modular rain garden sites in disadvantaged communities, reducing flooding and heat, creating youth stewards, building green jobs skills, and creating a replicable nature-based solutions model.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton noted the program’s success, stating, “For two decades, DEC’s Environmental Justice grant programs have delivered real outcomes in support of a healthier, more sustainable future for people all across New York.” Lefton emphasized the importance of the grants in empowering communities to address environmental challenges.
Grant Recipients and Projects
The grants will support various projects across New York State, including initiatives in Long Island, New York City, the Hudson Valley, and beyond. Notable projects include the Friends of Science East Inc.’s education center at Wardenclyffe and the Unkechaug Nation Community Care’s land restoration project.
In New York City, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy Inc. will engage teens in green infrastructure projects, while the Gowanus Canal Conservancy Inc. will expand environmental education for students in Brooklyn.
In the Hudson Valley, the Energy Justice Law and Policy Center will train New Rochelle youth in green infrastructure, and the Poughkeepsie Farm Project will promote food waste composting.
DEC also announced an additional $7 million in funding is now available for new projects aimed at furthering environmental justice across the state.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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