The New York Prize program provides funding for microgrid development in three phases: first, a $100,000 prize for qualifying projects to conduct a screening study of microgrid feasibility; second, a $1,000,000 prize for a smaller group of qualifying projects to conduct an investment-grade design study; and third, a larger prize for a handful of projects to actually build. It is anticipated that, in this process, communities that qualify for a smaller award may prove feasible enough to proceed to building without further state support in phases two and three.