Federal Grant Opportunities: 9-3-2025

Federal Grant Opportunities: September 3, 2025

My office is sharing the following information on federal grant opportunities available to you.

If you are applying for a grant that accepts Congressional letters of support, or if you are seeking additional information or guidance in your application process, please contact our office. We stand ready to assist you.

Featured Federal Webinar

Brownfields 101 with the EPA
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2 Office is hosting a “Brownfields 101” briefing for New York communities on Tuesday, September 9, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM to provide an overview of the EPA’s Brownfield Program.
- A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. This presentation will provide county and municipal governments, along with regional partners, an overview of EPA’s Brownfields Program which provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes, and others to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. It will also highlight EPA Region 2’s role in supporting local governments and nonprofit organizations with technical assistance for redevelopment projects.
- Registration is required, and a confirmation email with your personalized Zoom link for the September 9th session will be provided upon registration. Click here to Register!
- Sign up for the EPA’s Technical Assistance and Funding Resource Guide

Featured Funding Opportunities

Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants
- $325 million in new funding is available for the next round of the Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure (IMG) Grants program.
- Applications must be submitted using the online Application Form located on EFC’s
  website. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on September 12. A recording of the webinar is available on YouTube that includes information about these grants and how to apply. Any community that needs assistance with its water infrastructure is encouraged to contact our Community Assistance Teams.
NYS Community Forest Conservation Grant Program
- $1 million in competitive grant funding is now available through the State's Community Forest Conservation Grant Program. Community forests build local ownership of forests, local participation in forest management, and contribute to the State's goals of conserving 30 percent of New York's lands and waters by 2030.
- Municipalities can use this funding to purchase land or conservation easements to create or expand community-owned forests to sustain and protect wildlife habitat, promote clean air and water, preserve biodiversity, and increase access to recreation opportunities and open space.
- For more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply, access the Request for Applications (PDF) and watch a recorded webinar that also discusses how to use the State Financial System. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on September 17, 2025.
New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) Initiative (Round 2)
- Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the second round of the NY SWIMS Initiative, making $53 million in capital grants available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to expand access to safe swimming facilities across the state. At a time when extreme heat events are becoming more the norm, NY SWIMS provides competitive matching grants for the construction, renovation and improvement of swimming pools and natural swimming areas that will serve communities statewide.
- A webinar for potential applicants will be available September 3, 2025, with applications accepted from September 24 through October 30, 2025. Grant awards will be announced no earlier than December 15, 2025.

Small Business Resources

The Albany Small Business Development Center serves small businesses in the Capital Region. Since its start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Albany SBDC have worked directly with 28,053 businesses, helping them to invest $543,926,495 in the area's economy, and create or save 15,244 jobs.
- You can make an appointment for counseling by calling 518-442-7232 or filling out their online form.
New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) - NYS Multi-Agency Small Business Resource Presentation
- Watch this free session as representatives from several NYS agencies share information about resources and services available to assist small businesses. Topics include licensing, regulations, taxes, insurance, grants, training, and more.

Federal Funding Announcements

This summary includes new or updated opportunities in the following areas. Please click on the topic below to view all grant announcements:

This summary has been brought to you
by the Office of Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20).
Does one of these grants accept Congressional Letters of Support?
Please contact our office to find out how Rep. Tonko can support your request.

Grant deadlines and guidelines may change.
Please check with the awarding agency before applying.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with others who may be interested.
To join or remove yourself from this mailing list, or if you have specific grant questions, please contact Natalie Lincoln at [email protected] or (518) 465-0700.