Climate Piloting Program
The Governors Island Climate Piloting Program offers early-stage companies and innovators the opportunity to test and scale climate products and services in a real-world environment. Over 3‑to-18-month periods, participants receive rent-free physical space on Governors Island, a unique 172-acre destination in New York Harbor with 50+ historic buildings, 2 miles of waterfront, and 1 million annual visitors. Companies gain access to valuable technical support, visibility through events and marketing, and networking opportunities designed to connect participants with funders, investors, customers, and the public.
Since its launch in 2023, the Climate Piloting Program has advanced projects in living shorelines, clean water, circular economy, buildings, energy, air quality, and urban agriculture — opening doors to new customers, suppliers, talent, investors, and public agency partnerships. The program is a core initiative of the Trust’s Center for Climate Solutions, a project building a community of partners dedicated to accelerating equitable climate solutions for cities.
How to Apply
- Apply to the 2026 Climate Solutions Challenge: Adaptation by January 21 - Win a $10,000 prize and access to supplemental grants generally not to exceed $20,000 to support project design and deployment. Selected teams can access opportunities with the Trust’s network of climate partners, including the New York Climate Exchange, public agencies, and content area experts such as Streetlife Ventures.
- Submit a General Application on your own schedule - A year-round rolling application is open to all climate sectors. Project teams are responsible for all costs.