The Hudson River Valley Greenway Community and Compact Planning Grant Program supports municipalities within the designated Greenway area in New York State. It focuses on preserving and enhancing the scenic, natural, historic, cultural, and recreational resources of the Hudson River Valley. Grants are provided under two primary categories: Community Planning Grants and Compact Planning Grants. This funding initiative promotes regional planning, natural and cultural resource protection, economic development, public access, and heritage and environmental education, which together comprise the five Greenway Criteria.

The Community Planning Grant component offers funding to designated Greenway Communities to develop plans or projects aligned with the Greenway Criteria. These include comprehensive and master planning, zoning updates, natural and cultural resource inventories, open space preservation, waterfront revitalization, recreational trail development, and related public education efforts. Projects undertaken with intermunicipal collaboration are encouraged and receive higher funding caps. The Compact Planning Grant component supports communities that have adopted an approved Greenway Compact Plan. These grants fund planning efforts or site-specific projects outlined in or consistent with the Compact Plan, offering higher awards for counties developing or updating a Greenway Compact.

Funding for single-municipality Community Planning projects is capped at $20,000, while intermunicipal efforts can receive up to $30,000. Compact Planning Grants can provide up to $50,000, while counties may receive up to $100,000 for developing a new Greenway Compact and up to $75,000 for updating an existing one. The program requires a one-to-one matching contribution from grantees, with eligible match sources including consulting services, equipment, construction costs, land acquisition, and in-kind labor.

Eligible applicants must be located within the Greenway area, encompassing specific counties and municipalities adjacent to the Hudson River. Communities must be designated as Greenway Communities through a local board resolution. Compact Grant applicants must also be participating members of a Greenway Compact Plan. Only one Community Grant and one Compact Grant may be active per applicant at any time, and previously awarded projects must be completed before new applications are accepted.

Applications are evaluated based on alignment with Greenway Criteria, innovation, intermunicipal collaboration, and whether projects address community-wide planning. A conference period is available for applicants to consult with Greenway staff before submission. Grant awards are reimbursement-based and require documented expenses and local match. Final project plans must be adopted by local governing bodies to receive full payment.

The program operates on a biannual cycle, with spring and fall deadlines. For 2025, the spring application deadline is May 2, with awards announced June 11. The fall cycle opens August 18, with applications due October 31 and awards made December 10. All grant products must acknowledge Greenway support and adhere to New York State’s Community Risk and Resiliency Act.