The Critical Flood Risk Infrastructure Grant (CFRING) Program was administered through the NHDES Watershed Management Bureau to support flood resilience and stormwater management planning and assessment work, as well as implementation projects in New Hampshire’s coastal watershed. This grant program awarded $4.2 million ARPA-funded grants in 2022 and is no longer available.
You can find descriptions of the awarded projects in the 2022 and 2023 NHDES Infrastructure Funding Projects At-a-Glance informational maps.
The archived 2022 grant information is provided below.
Have questions about this program? Contact:
Polly Crocker
pauline.f.crocker@des.nh.gov
C: (603) 848-2436
O: (603) 559-0021
2022 CFRING Program Information
Eligible applicants include New Hampshire municipalities, quasi-governmental organizations (e.g. regional planning commissions, county conservations districts, etc.), non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. Projects must take place within one or more of the 42 New Hampshire communities located within New Hampshire’s coastal watershed[1].
Project Categories
Eligible projects must fall under at least one of the following project categories: (1) Planning and Assessment; or (2) Implementation. Projects that span both categories will also be considered (i.e. an implementation project with a planning and/or assessment component).
Planning and Assessment Projects: The planning and assessment category will support the development of plans that identify specific strategies and projects that meet the needs of a community to increase flood resilience and improve stormwater management, the evaluation and prioritization of alternatives and preliminary designs for flood resilience and stormwater management construction projects. The amount of funding requested for planning and assessment projects must not exceed $100,000. Total project cost may exceed $100,000, however, only $100,000 will be reimbursed.
Implementation Projects: Funding for implementation projects may be used for advancing preliminary designs into final designs and engineering plans, detailed cost estimates, robust communications with permitting officials at various levels of government, preparation of bid documents, related tasks to prepare projects for construction, construction of flood resilience and stormwater management infrastructure, and implementation of stormwater system operation and maintenance improvements that enhance flood resilience. The amount of funding requested for implementation projects must not exceed $2,500,000. Total project cost may exceed $2,500,000, however, only $2,500,000 will be reimbursed.
Additional project eligibility requirements are outlined in the Application Instructions and Evaluation Criteria.
How to Apply
Complete and submit an application via the online application form no later than 4 PM EST on April 15, 2022. Please refer to the Application Instructions and Evaluation Criteria as you fill out your application.
Application Webinar
An informational webinar was held on March 7, 2022 to describe this funding opportunity in more detail and answer questions. A recording is available at the following link; you will be prompted to register in order to view it. View webinar recording.
Questions and Answers
A summary of questions and responses related to the Critical Flood Risk Infrastructure Grant funding opportunity have been compiled and posted on the NHDES website. See summary of application questions & responses.
[1] Please see the map of New Hampshire’s Coastal Watershed. New Hampshire’s coastal watershed communities include: Barrington, Brentwood, Brookfield, Candia, Chester, Danville, Deerfield, Dover, Durham, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Farmington, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton, New Castle, New Durham, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Northwood, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rochester, Rollinsford, Rye, Sandown, Seabrook, Somersworth, Strafford, Stratham and Wakefield.
