Governor Dan McKee, First Lady Susan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management opened the fall application round on October 1. Awards are made on a rolling basis through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. Eligible applicants include schools, community groups and municipal divisions such as public works, parks and recreation departments, and every applicant must provide proof of nonprofit status.
A project may request up to $500 without a matching contribution, and applicants do not need to seek the full amount. The program can cover cleanup equipment, marketing, food and water for volunteers, and debris removal. Applicants should describe a workable cleanup or beautification activity and confirm that their proposed costs fit the official rules before submitting.
Applications are accepted through October 30, 2026, and funded projects must be completed by December 11. The official notice gives no closing clock time, so applicants should not assume end-of-day availability. After completion, recipients must submit a report with project photos, a participant count and the amount of material collected.