New York Farmland Protection Staff Capacity Grants Pilot Program

The Farmland Protection Staff Capacity Grants Pilot Program — the state's first — supports local agricultural and farmland protection goals by helping land trusts and local governments hire their initial project staff or add staff in order to initiate or accelerate farmland protection projects. Applicants apply for one of two project categories: (1) First Staff Hire for a new Land Trust or Land Conservancy — funding available to any not-for-profit conservation organization established within the last three years hiring its first staff member dedicated to farmland protection; and (2) Increased Staff Capacity for Farmland Protection — funding available to applicants already engaged in planning and implementing farmland protection projects at the local or regional level who intend to accelerate their rate of farmland protection.

Eligible applicants are counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and not-for-profit conservation organizations.

Straight grant to pay staff salary and benefits, no match required.

Size: "$1,000,000 is available for awards under this RFP. Awards will not exceed $300,000 per proposal. Eligible applicants can submit only one proposal in response to this RFP." No minimum award is published.

Match: "There is no match requirement for this grant opportunity, however matching funds are encouraged... Match can come in the form of cash or in kind from a variety of non-state sources." Match is scored — "The amount of matching funds included in the proposed budget (max. 6 points)" — so it improves your ranking without being mandatory.

Term: "Contracts will be awarded for a four-year term. The start date for awarded contracts is anticipated to be on or about September 1, 2026. Projects are expected to be completed within three years of the awardee hiring the staff capacity associated with its award."

Source of funds is "the Farmland Protection Line of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund." Two categories to pick between: first staff hire for a land trust formed within the last three years, or added/redirected staff capacity for an organization already doing farmland protection. Proposals were due June 26, 2026 via the SFS Grants Management System (Event ID FPSC01).

Applications were submitted via the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System (SFS GM). Proposals were due Friday, June 26, 2026 at 4:00 pm. An informational webinar for interested applicants was held April 16, 2026.