Environmental Grants

Attorney General Josh Stein awards grants annually to projects that will help improve and protect North Carolina’s natural resources through the Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) program.

Since the EEG Program began, the Attorney General has awarded more than $43 million to 228 projects. These projects have resulted in the closure of 240 abandoned hog waste lagoons and the restoration or permanent conservation of more than 31,000 acres of land, wetland restoration, stormwater remediation, stream stabilization, as well as several environmental education and research initiatives.

Program Background

In 2000, the Attorney General and Smithfield Foods entered into a 25-year agreement that, in part, provided $2 million per year for environmental projects across the state. This money was used to establish the EEG Program, which has awarded environmental grants since 2002.

EEG awards range from $5,000 to $500,000 in grants for a three-year grant project. These grants are only available to non-profit organizations, including academic institutions, and government entities. Eligible applicants can apply for funds for projects in the areas of land acquisitions, construction, remediation, restoration, planning, education, or research. EEG also fund small grant projects (awards of $50,000 or less) within these areas. There is a preference for projects that address environmental harm and damage to overburdened and underserved communities as well as for projects in eastern North Carolina.

Program Objectives

The EEG Program offers reimbursement grants for projects that improve North Carolina’s air, water, and land quality by addressing the goals of the Smithfield Agreement.

Apply for a Grant

The North Carolina Department of Justice will soon begin accepting applications for the next cycle of Environmental Enhancement Grants. Letters of intent in order to submit a full proposal must be submitted by March 1, 2024. Letters of Intent must be submitted through our web-based platform found here. Completed proposals will be due by April 4, 2024. 

Read the 2024 Request for Proposals.

IMPORTANT DATES:

January 31, 2024: Request for proposals released
February 13, 2024, 10 a.m. EST: Voluntary remote interest meeting for further information. Click here to RSVP.
March 1, 2024: Required letters of intent due. The form to submit a letter of intent can be found here.
March 6, 2024, 10 a.m. EST: Voluntary remote interest meeting for those submitting a letter of intent
April 4, 2024: Completed proposals due

If you are interested in attending our remote informational meeting about the grant on February 13, 2024, at 10 am, please submit your contact information here.

If you have questions about the grant program or the application process, please contact us at EEG@ncdoj.gov.