State & Local Funding Opportunities

Environmental Resilience, Community Planning & Public Health Funding Opportunities

As municipalities move toward the fall grant season, several funding opportunities remain available for communities seeking to protect drinking water resources, strengthen environmental resilience, improve waterfront infrastructure, and address pressing community needs. This week’s Grant Watch Wednesday highlights active state and local grant opportunities with approaching deadlines in Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine. With several deadlines falling before the end of August, communities with eligible projects should review program requirements and begin preparing application materials now.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant 

Mark your calendars, the FY 2027 funding cycle is scheduled to open on September 1, 2026, for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, through the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP), provides funding through the Coastal Partnership Initiative (CPI) Grant Program to help Florida communities protect, restore, and effectively manage coastal resources.

The program can be particularly valuable for coastal municipalities seeking funding for community resilience, waterfront improvements, public access, habitat restoration, and coastal resource management.

Funding may support projects involving:

• Coastal resilience and hazard mitigation planning
• Habitat restoration
• Coastal park planning and improvements
• Waterfront revitalization
• Public access to coastal resources
• Working waterfront improvements
• Coastal stewardship and resource protection
• Community resiliency to flooding, storms, and other coastal hazards

Eligible applicants include Florida’s 35 coastal counties and municipalities within those counties that are required to include a coastal element in their local comprehensive plans. Public colleges and universities, regional planning councils, national estuary programs, and nonprofit organizations may also apply when an eligible local government participates as a partner.

The program is funded through federal NOAA Coastal Zone Management Act funds and is administered competitively by the Florida Coastal Management Program.

Communities considering an application should begin identifying eligible coastal projects, developing preliminary scopes and budgets, and coordinating with municipal departments and potential project partners ahead of the application period.

Next Application Period: September 1 – October 31, 2026

For More Information:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant Program
https://floridadep.gov/fco/fcmp/content/coastal-partnership-initiative

 Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Education Assistance Program

The Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is accepting applications for the Child Passenger Safety Education and Assistance Program, which provides eligible organizations with car seats to distribute to low-income families in need.

The program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is designed to reduce child passenger injuries and fatalities by ensuring families have access to appropriate car seats and receive education on their proper installation and use.

The program can be particularly valuable for municipal police, fire, public health, and other local agencies that provide child passenger safety services to residents.

Support is available for:

• Car seats for distribution to eligible low-income families
• Child passenger safety education
• In-person car seat inspections and installation assistance
• Education for parents and caregivers on proper car seat use
• Child Passenger Safety Technician training and certification

Eligible applicants include Massachusetts municipal agencies, state agencies, nonprofit hospitals, and 501(c)(3) organizations serving children and families. Applicants must have a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician on staff who is actively conducting in-person car seat checks on behalf of the organization.

Organizations without a certified technician may also want to consider CPS Technician training. Training is offered through Baystate Medical Center, and the training and certification costs are paid by OGR using federal NHTSA funding.

Car seat requests are being accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis, so eligible municipalities should consider applying as soon as possible. Applications will close when available program funding has been depleted or on August 31, whichever occurs first.

Application Deadline: Rolling through August 31, 2026, or until available funding is exhausted

For More Information:

Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research – Child Passenger Safety Education and Assistance Program

Massachusetts Bulletproof Vest Program (BVP)

The Massachusetts Bulletproof Vest Program (BVP) provides funding to help municipal police departments purchase lifesaving body armor for eligible law enforcement officers.

The state-funded program provides reimbursement for up to 50% of the cost of eligible bulletproof vests purchased by Massachusetts municipal police departments. When combined with funding available through the federal Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership, the two programs can potentially cover the full cost of eligible bulletproof vests.

The program can be particularly valuable for municipalities seeking to reduce the local cost of providing required protective equipment to full-time and part-time police officers.

Funding may support:

• Purchase of eligible bulletproof vests
• Body armor for full-time sworn municipal police officers
• Body armor for part-time sworn municipal police officers
• Reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible vest costs through the state program
• Potential coverage of the remaining eligible costs through the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership

Eligible applicants are Massachusetts municipal police departments. Officers receiving vests must be full-time or part-time sworn personnel and must have graduated from a recognized Police Academy or Reserve Intermittent Academy.

To qualify for the state program, a municipal police department must first apply for and receive approval for reimbursement through the federal Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership, which can reimburse up to 50% of eligible costs. The Massachusetts BVP can then reimburse up to an additional 50%.

Reimbursement requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until available program funding is depleted, so municipalities with planned body armor purchases should complete the federal process and submit their state reimbursement requests promptly.

Application Deadline: Rolling, first-come, first-served until program funds are depleted

For More Information:

Massachusetts Bulletproof Vest Program (BVP)
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bulletproof-vest-program-bvp

 New Hampshire Source Water Protection Grant Program

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is accepting applications for the 2026 Source Water Protection Grant Program, which provides funding to protect drinking water sources and the lands surrounding them.

The program can be particularly valuable for municipalities and public water systems seeking to protect groundwater, drinking water supply wells, and other critical water resources from development or contamination.

Funding may support projects involving:

• Acquisition of land or conservation easements
• Protection of drinking water supply lands
• Wellhead protection
• Watershed and source-water protection
• Land conservation associated with public drinking water supplies
• Projects designed to reduce risks to existing drinking water sources

Funding is available for eligible land conservation and source-water protection projects, with awards of up to $500,000 per project.

Communities considering applications should identify properties that provide meaningful protection to existing drinking water supplies and begin coordinating with landowners, conservation organizations, water districts, and other potential partners.

Application Deadline: August 27, 2026

For More Information:

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services – Source Water Protection Grant Program

Connecticut Resilient Forestry Practices Grant Program

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is accepting applications for its Resilient Forestry Practices Grant Program, which supports implementation of forestry practices designed to improve the long-term health and resilience of Connecticut’s forests.

Municipalities that own forestland or manage significant wooded properties may be eligible to use the program to address forest health concerns while improving habitat, climate resilience, and sustainable forest management.

Eligible projects may include resilient forestry practices such as:

• Forest stand improvement
• Invasive species management
• Forest restoration
• Habitat improvements
• Climate-resilient forestry practices
• Management of municipally owned forestland

The program is particularly relevant for communities managing conservation land, municipal forests, watershed properties, or other publicly owned natural resources.

Unlike many competitive environmental grant programs, no local match is required for this funding opportunity.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM

For More Information:

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection – Resilient Forestry Practices Grant Program

Connecticut Historic Documents Preservation Program – Targeted Grant

The Connecticut State Library, Office of the Public Records Administrator, is accepting applications from Connecticut municipalities for the FY 2027 Historic Documents Preservation Program (HDPP) Targeted Grant, which provides funding to improve the preservation, organization, management, and accessibility of municipal historic records.

The program can be particularly valuable for town and city clerks seeking to preserve historic documents, improve municipal records-management systems, upgrade archival storage, or undertake specialized preservation and conservation projects.

Funding may support projects involving:

• Inventory and planning
• Organization and indexing of municipal records
• Records-management program development
• Archival storage and facility improvements
• Preservation and conservation of historic documents
• Eligible archival equipment and shelving
• Archival supplies
• Consultants and specialized vendors
• Certain municipal personnel costs directly associated with the grant project

Maximum grant awards are based on municipal population:

• Small municipalities – up to $4,000: Population under 20,000
• Medium municipalities – up to $6,000: Population between 20,000 and 69,999
• Large municipalities – up to $9,000: Population of 70,000 or more

Grant projects may begin after July 1, 2026, once the municipality has received a fully executed grant contract. All projects must be completed and grant funds expended by June 30, 2027.

The FY 2027 program has two application cycles. With the first cycle now closed, municipalities still interested in funding should prepare for the September 30, 2026 Cycle 2 deadline.

Communities considering an application should identify priority historic-record preservation or records-management needs, determine whether outside archival or preservation expertise is required, develop a project budget, and review the program guidelines to ensure proposed equipment, supplies, consultants, and other expenses are eligible.

Maximum Grant Award: $4,000–$9,000, depending on municipal population

Next Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

Project Completion Deadline: June 30, 2027

For More Information:

Connecticut State Library – Historic Documents Preservation Program
https://portal.ct.gov/csl/departments/public-records/municipal-program/hdpp

Application Submission: CSL.HDPP@ct.gov

 Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Municipal Incentive Fund

Rhode Island municipalities have another opportunity this fall to seek funding through the Opioid Settlement Municipal Incentive Fund, which is designed to encourage communities to invest opioid settlement resources in evidence-based programs and strategies.

The fund provides municipalities with an opportunity to leverage their own opioid settlement dollars to expand the impact of local prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm-reduction initiatives.

Projects may focus on activities such as:

• Substance-use prevention
• Treatment and recovery services
• Harm-reduction initiatives
• Community outreach
• Recovery supports
• Programs addressing the local impacts of the opioid epidemic
• Evidence-based strategies identified through Rhode Island’s opioid settlement framework

For municipalities already developing strategies for the use of opioid settlement funds, the Municipal Incentive Fund can provide an opportunity to increase the resources available for high-priority local initiatives.

The next application round is approaching this fall.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

Anticipated Award Announcement: November 15, 2026

For More Information:

Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services – Opioid Settlement Municipal Incentive Fund

Maine Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program

The Maine Office of Community Affairs’ Maine Coastal Program is accepting applications for the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program, which provides funding to help coastal municipalities address waterfront planning, harbor management, public access, and resilient infrastructure needs.

The program is designed to help communities plan for the long-term use and protection of working waterfronts and coastal areas while preparing municipal infrastructure for changing environmental conditions and future hazards.

Eligible activities may include:

• Waterfront and harbor planning
• Shoreline access planning
• Identification and resolution of waterfront use conflicts
• Harbor management planning
• Planning for resilient waterfront infrastructure
• Feasibility studies
• Engineering and design
• Planning to improve public access to coastal resources

Grant funds may be used for planning, feasibility, and design activities but cannot be used for construction.

Eligible Applicants:

• Municipalities within Maine’s Coastal Zone
• Unorganized townships
• Tribal Governments
• Coastal Regional Councils

Collaborative applications involving multiple eligible communities are encouraged and qualify for a higher maximum award.

Funding Available:

• Individual Applicants: $5,000–$50,000
• Collaborative Projects: Up to $75,000
• Local Match: 10% of the grant request, which may consist of eligible cash and/or in-kind contributions

The Maine Coastal Program and Municipal Planning Assistance Program have approximately $450,000 available collectively for this round of coastal planning grants.

Communities considering waterfront improvements, working harbor investments, public access projects, or coastal resilience initiatives should consider using this funding to complete the planning and design work necessary to position larger capital projects for future implementation funding.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM

For More Information:

Maine Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program

 Maine Community Resilience Partnership – Service Provider Grant

The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), through the Community Resilience Partnership (CRP) and State Resilience Office, is accepting applications for Service Provider Grants to help Maine communities advance climate action, clean energy, resilience planning, and vulnerability assessment efforts.

The program can be particularly valuable for organizations with expertise in municipal planning, climate resilience, clean energy, community engagement, vulnerability assessment, and technical assistance that can work directly with communities participating in the Community Resilience Partnership.

The program includes two funding tracks:

• Track 1 – Community Enrollment Service Provider Grants: Supports organizations assisting up to five communities with preparing for and enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership and subsequently applying for CRP grant funding.
• Track 2 – Community Vulnerability Assessment Service Provider Grants: Supports organizations assisting up to five enrolled or enrolling communities with completing vulnerability assessments and preparing to pursue grant funding for identified priorities.

Funding may support services involving:

• Climate resilience planning
• Clean energy planning
• Greenhouse gas emissions reduction planning
• Community Resilience Partnership enrollment
• Municipal climate-action planning
• Community vulnerability assessments
• Climate risk identification and analysis
• Development of recommendations to address identified vulnerabilities
• Technical assistance for municipalities
• Preparation for subsequent Community Resilience Partnership grant applications

Applicants may request up to $15,000 per community, with a maximum of five communities per group, providing the potential for awards of up to $75,000.

Track 1 applicants must demonstrate experience and expertise in climate resilience, clean energy, and emissions reduction. Track 2 applicants must demonstrate expertise in assessing community vulnerability and risk and developing recommendations to address identified vulnerabilities.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to establish partnerships or subcontracting relationships when additional expertise is needed. This creates opportunities for multidisciplinary teams combining climate and technical expertise with municipal planning, community engagement, communications, facilitation, and project-management capabilities.

For municipalities, the program provides an opportunity to receive outside technical assistance to build local resilience capacity, assess climate risks, identify priority projects, and position the community to pursue future CRP funding.

Grant Amount: Up to $15,000 per community; up to five communities per group

Program Status: Open

For More Information:

Maine Office of Community Affairs – Community Resilience Partnership Grants
https://www.maine.gov/future/climate/community-resilience-partnership/grants

 Maine Forest Economy Program (FEP)

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), in coordinatio with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), offers funding through the Forest Economy Program (FEP) to strengthen the forest-based economy and help communities and businesses adapt to new technologies, markets, and viable economic models.

The program can be particularly valuable for Maine municipalities and regional partners in forest-dependent communities seeking to invest in infrastructure, economic development, workforce development, and other initiatives that support the long-term competitiveness of the forest-products industry.

Funding may support projects involving:

• Public infrastructure that directly supports the forest industry
• Community development projects supporting diversified economic uses of forest resources
• Workforce training and development
• Recruitment and retention of workers needed by forest-related businesses
• Development of workforce skills needed for emerging forest industries and technologies
• Marketing, communications, and education activities associated with an eligible infrastructure, community development, or workforce project
• Projects supporting new technologies and viable forest-based business models
• Initiatives that strengthen or diversify forest-dependent local and regional economies

The program is intended to support implementation-oriented economic development projects rather than basic research. Basic research projects are not eligible for funding.

Municipalities considering an application should identify projects with a clear connection to the forest economy and demonstrate how the proposed investment will support forest-related businesses, employment, workforce development, infrastructure, or broader economic activity. Communities may also want to coordinate with regional economic development organizations, forest-products businesses, workforce organizations, and other partners when developing competitive projects.

Program Status: Open

For More Information:

Northern Border Regional Commission – Forest Economy Program
https://www.nbrc.gov/content/FEP

Looking Ahead

As several August and September deadlines approach across Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine, municipalities should use the remaining weeks of summer to finalize applications while also preparing projects for upcoming fall funding opportunities. Communities that keep project scopes, cost estimates, planning documents, and partnerships up to date are often better positioned to act quickly and submit competitive applications as new grant programs are announced.

Capital Strategic Solutions will continue monitoring state and federal funding announcements, agency grant opportunities, and emerging municipal programs to identify resources that can help communities advance critical projects. If your municipality is considering a project and needs assistance identifying funding sources, developing a grant strategy, or preparing a competitive application, our team is ready to help.

Let Capital Strategic Solutions assist with your grant writing, research, and compliance needs.