Landscape Partnership FY26

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is offering grants for the acquisition of property interests in large, unique, unfragmented conservation and working landscapes. The program aims to facilitate complex large-acreage projects, leverage state financial investments, expand partnerships among federal, state, municipal, and non-profit entities, enhance the stewardship of conservation land, and expand public outdoor recreational opportunities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, state or federal environmental land agencies, and water or fire districts or other public water suppliers. The grant program will provide funding for the acquisition of interests in land, including fee simple acquisition, conservation restriction, agricultural preservation restriction, or watershed preservation restriction. Key aspects of the grant program include: • Eligible projects must have a minimum contiguous acreage based on county, with varying minimum acreage requirements • Projects must accommodate public access and provide opportunities for passive recreational use of the land • Eligible applicants must demonstrate capacity to complete complex land conservation deals and have no unresolved protected open space conversion issues with EEA • Grant awards may not exceed 50% of total project costs, with a maximum award of $1,250,000 • Reimbursement requests for individual eligible costs may be up to 100% of the cost, provided the sum of reimbursement requests do not exceed 50% of documented project costs