Our mission is to provide innovative financing solutions that help states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and the private sector pay for environmental projects.
About Us
Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New England’s 10 Federally Recognized Tribes.
Since 2001, the New England Environmental Finance Center (NEEFC) at the University of Southern Maine has worked to build local capacity to pay for the growing cost of protecting critical environmental resources and fostering resilient communities.
Our programs reflect the greatest needs of the 6 New England states including funding and financing of climate adaptation and resilience, stormwater and nutrient management, water infrastructure, and sustainable operating practices.
“High quality water is more than the dream of the conservationists, more than a political slogan; high quality water, in the right quantity at the right place at the right time, is essential to health, recreation, and economic growth.”
— Edmund Muskie, Former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator & Governor of Maine
The NEEFC hosts the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network. The SNEP Network provides training and assistance to municipalities, organizations, and Tribes to advance stormwater and watershed management, ecological restoration, and climate resilience in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The Network’s mission is to meet communities where they are at, and advance their critical climate resilience projects to the funding and financing phase.
As part of the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN), the NEEFC is one of 10 regional centers supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Together the EFCN is a collaborative of university-based organizations working to create innovative solutions to the difficult how-to-pay issues of environmental protection and improvement.
Upcoming Events
Virtual Webinar: Organics Collection from Craft Breweries
Thursday, September 4th | 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT | Webinar
On a municipal level, little is understood about what goes into making beer, spirits, etc. The processes involved are resource intensive and the wastes generated are significant. Certain byproducts produced in the process can have significant impacts on wastewater infrastructure, treatment systems, and waterways. In recognition of this fact, a couple of Rhode Island area brewers sought a partner to help them sidestream their high strength wastewater byproducts.
ReMix Organics has partnered with many brewers in the Rhode Island region to pilot a byproduct sidestreaming service. The success of this pilot led to a rare municipal/service provider collaboration, which is just now gaining traction. This webinar will explain the byproducts involved, their potential impacts on wastewater systems, and the trials and tribulations that have led us to today.
Crucial Conversations® for Mastering Dialogue training with the SNEP Network
Monday, September 29th - Wednesday, October 1st | 12:30pm - 4:00pm EDT | Virtual Training
This fall, the SNEP Network is offering a virtual, interactive, multi-session communications training that will help you gain the confidence and ability to lead dialogues about community resilience and natural resources management when stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. Learn the conflict management skills of the world’s best communicators.
Crucial Conversations® for Mastering Dialogue teaches nine powerful skill sets grounded in decades of social science research. This training is open to municipal officials or staff, professional consultants, regional planning agency staff, state or federal agency staff, watershed organization staff, environmental nonprofits, or others who are making a commitment to advancing stormwater and watershed management, ecological restoration, and climate resilience in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
Featured Funding Opportunity
Jobs and Inclusive Infrastructure Initiative
Applications due: September 15, 2025
Grant or loan? Grant
Purpose
The goal of the Jobs & Inclusive Infrastructure Initiative is to assist communities with federally funded infrastructure to support meaningful collaborations and center community engagement. This round of investments will have a strong emphasis on water-related projects.
Who is eligible?
- Intended for infrastructure projects that are already supported by public funds. This includes water infrastructure funds, Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds.
- Lead applicant must be a 501c3 nonprofit. Partners can include municipalities, nonprofits, employers, state agencies, and tribal governments.
- Must identify a 50% cash match from at least one funder. In-kind support will be considered in some cases.
Eligible Activities
The funding from this grant does not support the physical infrastructure itself. Projects must incorporate economic inclusion strategies and collaborate with local community partners. Examples of eligible collaborative projects include workforce development, implementation of local hiring practices, or development of equitable procurement practices. Grant period can be one or two years.
Funding Availability
- $45,000 – $120,000 alongside complimentary technical assistance and access to a peer learning cohort of other grantees.
- Total available funding: $640,000
Looking for more funding opportunities?
What We Do
Outreach and Engagement
Community engagement, charrettes, and meeting facilitation that engages all stakeholders and includes their voices in planning decisions.
Technical Assistance
Training and assistance to municipalities, organizations, and tribes to advance stormwater and watershed management, funding and sustainable financing, and improve utility and business operations to achieve resilience to the changing climate.
Education and Training
Capacity building and education of state and local decision makers and utility managers in innovative
financing solutions.
Develop Young Professionals
Engaging student interns in projects to help develop the next generation of environmental finance professionals.