Grant Programs

Municipal Seawall Repair Grant
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announces the availability of municipal financial assistance for seawall repairs.  Five million dollars for this program have been appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 to be expended for the Municipal Seawall Repair Grant Program, authorized by Chapter 122 Section 2e, through the open and competitive application process with the Planning & Engineering Division, Office of Waterways.  The grants are specifically for the repair of seawalls that will reduce current threats to public safety.  Existing or continuing programs for other types of coastal structures or other project aspects (planning, design, etc) are not eligible for these grants.  Only projects that can be completed by June 30, 2007 are eligible for funding

Greenways and Trails Demonstration Grants Program
Greenways are corridors of land and water that protect and link a variety of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. The DCR provides grant awards to municipalities, non-profits and regional planning agencies to support innovative projects which advance the creation and promotion of greenway and trail networks throughout Massachusetts. This grant program is no longer offered, however, the Recreational Trails Grants Program is currently available.

Historic Curatorship Program
A competitive grant program where living or working in an historic building may be free in exchange for building renovation or repairs.

Flood Management Grants
DCR's Department of Flood Hazard Management, in coordination with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, offers two grant programs to local government in order to reduce the risks and costs of natural disasters, especially floods, on homeowners and community infrastructure. These programs include pre-disaster grants through the annual Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (FMA) and post-disaster grants through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

Heritage Tree Care Grant Program
This federally funded program offers competitive grants to communities with advanced tree care programs wishing to protect and enhance large or unique "heritage trees" located on public property or easements. In order to be designated a "heritage tree," the tree must have a diameter greater than 32 inches, be designated a champion in size for its species in Massachusetts, or have documented historic significance to the community or state.

Lake and Pond Grant Program
DCR's Lake and Pond grant program awards grants for the protection, preservation and enhancement of public lakes and ponds in the Commonwealth. A maximum grant of $25,000 is available to eligible applicants on a 50/50 cost sharing basis. The grant program helps municipalities and local organizations that are struggling to meet the challenges of providing long term solutions for lake and ponds management.

Targeted Watersheds Grant
Funding for low-impact development demonstration in the Ipswich River watershed.

MASS ReLeaf Grant Program
Mass ReLeaf is a trust fund for public tree planting projects in Massachusetts. By seeking public or private funding Mass ReLeaf is able to provide matching grants to support local projects that involve a partnership in the planting and care of trees on public land. The goals of the program are to help communities purchase trees to be planted for energy conservation, screening, community gateway or parking lot enhancement, or to offset urban pollution; and to assure long-term tree survival by emphasizing proper tree selection, planting, aftercare and maintenance.

Recreational Trails Grants
The Recreational Trails Program provides funding support for a variety of trail protection, construction and stewardship projects throughout Massachusetts. This national program makes funds available to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The Program is authorized and funded through the federal “Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century” known as TEA-21. It is administered on a reimbursement basis by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly DEM), in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board and the Massachusetts Highway Department. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, government agencies, and municipalities.

Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grants
The grants are available to non-profit rural call or volunteer fire departments that primarily serve a community or city with a population of less than 10,000.  The fire department must be made up of at least eighty percent (80%) call or volunteer firefighters and be recognized as a department under state law.

Forest Stewardship Planning Grants for Private and Town Forestlands
(413) 256-1201
This program seeks to encourage landowners to practice long-term guardianship through the development of a management plan for their woodlands. Recognizing both the ecological and social values of our forests, the program is designed to improve wildlife habitat and forest aesthetics, to protect soil and water resources, and to increase the potential for high-quality wood products. Grants are awarded to landowners and municipalities for the preparation of 10-year Forest Stewardship management plans. Grants range from $350 to $6,600.

Urban Forest Planning and Education Grants
The goal of the Urban Forestry program is to assist communities and nonprofit groups in building support for the long-term protection and management of community trees and forests. The USDA Forest Service provides the grant funds that the DCR administers with guidance from the Massachusetts Community Forestry Council. A maximum of $10,000 is available per project.

Rivers and Harbors Grant Program
(781) 740-1600
A statewide program of matching grants from DCR's Office of Waterways to towns and municipalities for design and construction to address problems on coastal and inland waterways, lakes and great ponds.

SCA Mass Parks AmeriCorps
The SCA Mass Parks AmeriCorps is currently accepting project requests for the 2007 conservation season! Based in Dubuque State Forest in the Berkshire hilltowns region, SCA Mass Parks AmeriCorps is a residential community of emerging leaders who devote 5 or 10 months to full time conservation service. Most members have completed, or are in the process of completing, their college degrees. This program is a partnership between the Student Conservation Association, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Service Alliance/Corporation for National and Community Service. SCA crews tackle a wide variety of projects including trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, bridge construction, renovation of historic structures, invasive species removal, and environmental education, with an emphasis on trail projects. Deadline December 18th, 2006.

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