Last updated: August 14, 2026
Climate Impact Grants are back with a second round of funding, providing up to $25,000 for community-led projects that address the impacts of extreme heat and/or flooding in the Piscataqua Region Watershed. That means we've expanded our grant program to include all 52 communities in the watershed. Projects must emphasize local action and strong community engagement to build climate resilience where it’s needed most.
A total of $140,000 will be available in 2026 to fund multiple projects that turn smart ideas into real solutions.
If our Project Builder program helps shape and strengthen your idea, Climate Impact Grants are about putting that idea into motion. These two programs are designed to work hand-in-hand: they share the same eligibility criteria, themes, and focus on climate solutions at the local level.
Climate Impact Grant applications are now open and are due October 30, 2026, 5PM EST.
Have questions about the program or want talk over your ideas? Book office hours with Annie Cox to learn more or to discuss your application.
This grant program is made possible by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) through generous funding support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation as part of the Great Bay 2030 initiative.
This program has also been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Assistance Agreement 4T00A01778 to the recipient. The contents of this webpage do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the U.S. EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of any products, services or enterprises mentioned in this document.
Learning from Successes: Climate Impact Grant Funding Round 1
As we offer a second round of funding, we reflect and celebrate the successes of our currently funded projects. In our first round nearly $95,000 has been awarded to support projects that plan for resilience and put solutions into motion.
PREP's Climate Impact Grant funded projects reflect the creativity and commitment of communities across the watershed, from planting trees reducing heat, and using art to spark climate conversations, to planning for resilient downtowns and engaging residents in protect Great Bay.
Learn from recently funded projects on how your community might apply for a grant. Also, a huge congratulations to these funded successes!
Town of Exeter: Exeter’s Heat Re-LEAF Street Tree Planting Program
Photo credit: Kristen Murphy
As extreme heat conditions increase in frequency and duration, tree-lined streets are increasingly beneficial. Urban heat island maps for the Town of Exeter, NH indicate portions of town burdened with higher temperatures due in part to a lack of tree canopy, adding evidence to what walkers and neighborhoods already know-trees make a huge impact. Though the Town has a been working to increase our tree canopy cover, earning them Growth Awards from Tree City USA annually, PREP's Climate Impact Grant will help them make significance progress on a critical issue.
The Town of Exeter will now be able to fast track their planting, helping them to reach a mature canopy sooner. Lastly, they'll be able to provide tangible heat “Re-Leaf” in their walkable community and by prioritizing urban areas with the greatest heat exposure. This project aims to provide near-term cooling benefits while building toward a healthier, more resilient urban forest.
Extreme heat and poor water quality are two sides of the same coin in built-up areas with a lot of impervious cover (e.g., roads, rooftops, and other hardscape surfaces). Planting trees targets both simultaneously, cooling the community's neighborhoods while naturally filtering and cooling the water flowing through the watershed.
City of Somersworth: Public Art Awareness Changing Climate
Photo credit: John Gisis
When the City of Somersworth, NH expressed their desire become a leader in bringing awareness regarding urban heat island and flooding in the region through visual art, they had our attention. What an awesome approach to community engagement! Artist often weave environmental challenges, including issues related to extreme heat and climate adaptation into their work. When they share their work, environmental issues become a regular part of everyday conversations
One output of this project? One to two large public art installations that will build awareness to extreme heat or flooding. By partnering with artists, residents, and local organizations, this project brings climate issues into everyday spaces, helping build understanding, spark dialogue, and support future resilience efforts. The long-ranging impacts include support for the City’s Natural Resource and Land Use Master Plan Chapters and Hazard Mitigation Plan.
City of Dover: Ash Alert, A Comprehensive Downtown Plan
Photo credit: Makayla Edgecomb
There are roughly 80 ash trees that line the City of Dover, NH's downtown area on Central Avenue. Unfortunately, they are all affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that kills the trees. As climate temperatures warm and New England winters become more mild, the EAB infestations worsen. More invasive beetles survive more winters. Their populations push northward. Their infestations worsen.
The good news? The City of Dover is tackling tree replacement with an innovative, two-in-one solution. Limited downtown tree canopy and declining tree health have heightened concerns around urban heat and stormwater runoff. Through this grant, Dover will create a strategic plan to replace dying ash trees while simultaneously addressing heat exposure and water management.
Replacing these trees with an intentional canopy will directly improve local water quality, keeping pavement cool to reduce thermal runoff and capturing heavy rainfall before pollutants reach Dover’s waterways. Community events will also give residents a hands-on role in shaping these environmental solutions.
Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation: Building Climate Resilience in Great Bay through Education and Cleanup
Volunteers gather with debris collected from Great Bay, highlighting how community-led cleanup efforts—like those led by the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation—help reduce pollution linked to flooding and build climate resilience. Photo credit: Blue Ocean Society
If you've ever attended a trash clean up in your community, you know firsthand just how much trash collects in our waterways. But marine debris isn’t just an eyesore; it can actually clog drainage systems and increase local flooding. To tackle this challenge, Blue Ocean's Society is launching a new project to inspire stewardship across the Great Bay watershed and stop marine debris at the source.
Building on two decades of coastal education and debris removal along the Gulf of Maine, this effort expands their focus inland. By partnering with local schools, community centers, and businesses, Blue Ocean Society will deliver hands-on educational programs and cleanup events showing how everyday actions protect the Bay.
The project also addresses an easy-to-overlook connection: extreme heat. As temperatures rise, more people head outdoors to parks, rivers, and beaches—naturally leading to higher use of single-use plastics and more litter. By boosting upstream cleanups, expanding data sharing, and driving community action, this initiative aims to stop waste before hot weather and heavy rains wash it downstream.
Local Location, Lasting Impact
PREP's Climate Impact Grants make a huge difference in addressing our watershed's challenges related to extreme heat and/or flooding. From tree planting to public art, planning efforts to hands-on cleanup, these projects demonstrate that climate resilience starts at the community level. Each one reflects a shared commitment to protecting the Great Bay watershed while improving quality of life for the people who live, work, and play here.
As these efforts move forward, they not only deliver tangible benefits—cooler streets, cleaner waterways, stronger plans—but also build the relationships, awareness, and momentum needed for long-term change.
Apply for a Climate Impact Grant by October 30, 2026, 5pM EST!