Newark, New York. New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has developed a Crosswalk tool to help communities identify local water-related program activities that may also be eligible for state and federal program certification points. A side-by-side chart matches New York State’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program criteria alongside components of six state or federal programs: Coastal Erosion Hazard Area Communities, Community Rating System, Drinking Water Source Protection Program, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System.
Municipal leaders and staff, code officials, planners, and the public are invited to learn how to use the Crosswalk tool on Monday, June 30, 2025, from 11:00-11:30. a.m. webinar hosted by NYSG Coastal Community and Coastal Resilience Specialists. To register, contact NYSG at 315-312-3042.
Each state or federal program in the Crosswalk tool has a profile that shows how its activities, such as, but not limited to, watershed-based planning for flood mitigation or water quality, green infrastructure installations, nature-based shorelines, adopting smart growth ordinances, and maintenance or preservation of green space, could qualify or be modified to qualify for points toward CSC certification. Ultimate approval of local program components for points resides with the state and federal program reviewers.
Funding to create and update the Crosswalk tool was provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund under the authority of the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Act.
