The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “Department”) invites eligible counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and not-for-profit conservation organizations to submit proposals for financial assistance to build staff capacity of those entities that will hold agricultural conservation easements on viable agricultural land pursuant to agricultural and farmland protection efforts of counties and municipalities.
Donor Name: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/26/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Capacity Grants Program will support local agricultural and farmland protection goals by helping land trusts and local governments to hire their initial project staff or to add staff with the purpose of initiating or accelerating farmland protection projects. Specifically, state funding under this grant opportunity will support local agricultural and farmland protection goals by building staff capacity for eligible organizations to initiate or accelerate farmland protection projects. Projects will consist of increasing staff capacity for the planning and implementing of farmland protection at the local or regional level.
Objectives
- Service Area Orientation
- Technical Training
- Internal Relationship Building
- Establishing External Networks
- Landowner Outreach
- Project Development
- Seeking Funding
- Funding Secured
- Project Completed/Stewardship
Categories
Applicants will apply for one of two project categories:
- First Staff Hire for new Land Trust or Land Conservancy: Available to any notfor-profit conservation organization established within the last three years. Eligible project is limited to the applicant’s hiring of its first staff member dedicated to farmland protection. (Applicant’s hiring includes the expansion of any existing part-time employee to a full-time equivalent with the added hours devoted to farmland protection implementation.)
- Increased Staff Capacity for Farmland Protection: Available to any eligible applicant that is already engaged in planning and implementing farmland protection projects at the local or regional level but intends to accelerate its rate of farmland protection. Eligible projects are limited to (a) applicant’s hiring (or Joint Applicants’ shared hiring) of new/additional staff capacity, or (b) applicant’s redirection (or Joint Applicants’ redirection) of existing staff capacity to accelerate the completion of perpetual agricultural conservation easement projects on viable agricultural lands.
Funding Information
- Environmental Protection Fund. $1,000,000 is available for awards under this RFP.
- Awards will not exceed $300,000 per proposal.
Eligible Costs
- Employee salary or hourly wages
- Employee benefits, such as health/dental insurance, vacation, and retirement
- Mileage reimbursement associated with any activity contained within the Work Plan
- One computer
- One mobile telephone
- Training costs
- Supplies and materials associated with conducting any activity contained within the Work Plan
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals for funding will be accepted from counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and not-for-profit conservation organizations as defined New York Environmental Conservation Law (i.e., land trusts or land conservancies).
- Applicants must be located in New York State or have at least part of their geographical service zone in the state.
- A joint proposal from two eligible applicants will be accepted. Applicants submitting a joint proposal shall submit a single proposal with one applicant assuming “Project Sponsor” status. The Project Sponsor will execute the grant award agreement and assume responsibility for the timely completion of the project and all required reports.
For more information, visit NYSDAM.
