|
Funding Opportunities for
Municipalities
| | |
- U.S. DOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
- CT DECD Brownfields Funding
- U.S. EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program
- U.S. EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant
- U.S. DOT Bridge Investment Program
-
CT DOT Active Transportation Microgrant Program
-
Build America Bureau - Technical Assistance and Financing Programs like TIFIA and RRIF
- USDA Rural Development Emergency Community Water Assistant Grant
-
CT Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
-
CT DEEP ConneCTed Communities Program
- CT Main Street Center EmPOWER Main Street Fund
-
EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program
- Urban Act Grant
-
CT Department of Housing Funding Opportunities
- HUD Discretionary Funding Opportunities
- Connecticut Children's Healthy Homes Program
- Recent Awards
- Tools & Resources
- Requests for Your Input
- ICYMI
| |
This newsletter includes information about state and federal funding opportunities that municipalities are eligible to apply for.
CRCOG staff are here to help with your grant applications. We provide technical assistance for your grant applications and look forward to working with you to build a better region. If you have questions or would like to discuss priority projects in your community, and how to fund them, please contact Elizabeth Sanderson.
| | |
U.S. DOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
Application Deadline: October 8, 2025
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), in coordination with the Build America Bureau (BAB), have $54.2M in grant funding available to support planning and design phase activities for rural and tribal infrastructure projects.
There are expected to be 21-216 awards, ranging from $250,000 to $2.5M.
Learn more and apply online when the application portal opens on September 8, 2025.
| | |
CT DECD Brownfields Program
Application Deadline: September 10, 2025
The State of Connecticut Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD) of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is accepting applications for financial assistance available through four brownfield programs:
-
Municipal Brownfield Program - Remediation and Limited-Assessment (Funding Announcement; Application Form; maximum grant award: $6M)
-
Municipal Brownfield Program - Assessment-only Grant (Funding Announcement; Application Form; max. grant award: $200,000)
-
Targeted Brownfield Development Loan (Funding Announcement; max. loan amount: $6M)
-
Brownfield Area-wide Revitalization Planning Program (Funding Announcement; max. grant award: $200,000)
Up to $25M in funding is available for this round (Round 22).
Prevailing wage legislation for construction projects funded by DECD (CGS Sec. 31-53c) was recently amended. Effective July 1, 2025, projects that accept $1M or more in brownfield funding need to pay prevailing wage rates only for the cleanup phase (not the entire redevelopment/vertical construction phase), unless additional DECD financial assistance is also accepted.
More information about each program and their individual Application Form are available on the Program Webpage. If you plan to apply by uploading application materials to SharePoint, then please a request to brownfields@ct.gov by September 8, 2025.
| | | |
U.S. EPA Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program
Application Deadline: October 6, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency has $9.5M in grant funding available to assist medium and large public water systems with protecting drinking water sources. Learn more.
Apply now through Grants.gov.
| | | |
U.S. EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant
Application Deadline: September 26, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency is offering $14M in grant funding to support training programs that equip residents with the skills and credentials needed to pursue environmental jobs. The goal is to ensure that positions often filled by outside workers are instead accessible to those within the affected communities.
Learn more.
Apply now through Grants.gov.
| | | Transportation-Related Funding Opportunities | | |
U.S. DOT Bridge Investment Program
Application Deadline: Varies by grant type
The Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program (BIP) makes billions of dollars available to local, regional, and state units of government to fix eligible bridges and culverts on the National Bridge Inventory. This is an excellent opportunity to improve bridge condition and the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight over existing bridges.
There are three types of grants, each with separate application deadlines to be considered for FY26 funding:
-
Large Bridge Projects - total eligible project costs greater than $100M, due by August 1, 2025;
-
Bridge Projects - total eligible project costs less than or equal to $100M, due by November 1, 2025;
-
Planning Grants - for planning, feasibility analysis, and revenue forecasting of a project that would subsequently be eligible to apply for grant types 1 or 2, due by October 1, 2025.
An amendment to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Large Bridge Projects was posted on June 2. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for Bridge Projects and Planning Grants was posted on December 20, 2023.
CRCOG developed a mapping tool to assist municipalities with identifying potentially eligible projects.
Learn how Project Bundling could help you qualify for these funding opportunities, and visit the program webpage for application templates and tools to help you in applying.
Applications will be accepted through Grants.gov until the deadlines noted above.
| | |
CT DOT Active Transportation Microgrant Program
Application Deadline: Anticipated in March 2026
Thanks to all who applied for the CT Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Microgrant Program! CRCOG has reached our allotment for the 2025 calendar year but another solicitation with more funding is expected to be announced for 2026, with applications due in March. We will share more information as it becomes available.
This grant program funds schools, school districts, municipalities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for the purchase of items like bicycle helmets; bicycle locks; bicycle fleets; safety vests; bicycle maintenance training and materials; and pay for League Cycling instructors training; and programs, events, and materials for bicycle and pedestrian safety education.
Please consider applying in 2026 and contact Mike Cipriano with questions.
| | |
U.S. DOT Financing Programs - TIFIA, RRIF
U.S. DOT offers flexible loan programs through the TIFIA and RRIF programs to finance large transportation projects. Funding for Transit-oriented Development (TOD) projects is now also available for eligible areas. The TOD Eligibility Map for TIFIA and RRIF identifies the following CRCOG municipalities as eligible: Berlin, Rocky Hill, Glastonbury, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Enfield.
Important to note: the map does not identify all potentially eligible TOD areas in our region. Just because your municipality is not listed above or highlighted on the map does not mean you cannot pursue this loan program.
| | |
Environment and Energy-Related Funding Opportunities
| | |
USDA Rural Development Emergency Community Water Assistant Grant
USDA's Rural Development Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Program is accepting applications to help eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply (verify your project's address).
Contact CT's Rural Development Office to learn more and to apply.
| | |
CT Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Application Deadline: Rolling Basis, likely October 1, 2025
Connecticut's Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is accepting applications and letters of intent for all FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant programs. These programs fund projects aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters.
Learn more and send your letter of intent to DEMHS.HMGP@ct.gov.
| | | |
CT DEEP ConneCTed Communities Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
The ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has an estimated $6.7M available for the construction and deployment of broadband upgrades in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) in communities that need it most.
DEEP is seeking applications for grant funding to facilitate low-income and multi-family curb-to-home and business broadband infrastructure buildout in underserved areas. All projects funded through this program must reach substantial completion before December 31, 2026. Learn more and Apply Online.
| | | Housing and Community Development-Related Funding Opportunities | | | |
Connecticut Main Street Center's EmPOWER Main Street Fund
Application Deadline: November 14, 2025
Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC), in partnership with United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), has $25,000 in grant funding available to support main street projects.
Projects that contribute to main street vibrancy may receive grant awards ranging from $2,500-$10,ooo. You must be a CMSC member in good standing to apply, have completed a CMSC Main Street Management Assessment within the past year, and be located in a UI, SCG, or CNG territory.
Learn more and apply now.
| | |
Economic Development Administration (EDA) FY25 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program
Application deadline: March 3, 2026
The U.S. Economic Development Administration makes $1.45B available to support economic recovery activities in major disaster declaration areas because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters that occurred in 2023 and 2024.
Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and visit the Program Webpage to learn more. Apply through Grants.gov.
| | |
Urban Act Grant Program
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Connecticut municipalities that are designated as economically distressed, public investment communities, or urban centers are eligible to apply for the Urban Act Grant Program. This program seeks to promote community conservation and development and improve the quality of life for urban residents. A wide range of projects are eligible, including economic and community development; transportation; housing; recreation development; solid waste disposal; public safety; and social services-related projects. Learn more.
Complete the Application and submit it, per instructions, to the CT Department of Economic and Community Development.
| | |
Connecticut Department of Housing Funding Opportunities
Application deadlines vary by program.
The State of Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) has numerous discretionary grant programs available that support agency initiatives such as Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Housing Affordability initiatives, Community Development, and Individual & Family Support.
Visit the DOH Programs and Initiatives page to see a list of opportunities and learn how to apply.
| | |
HUD Discretionary Funding Opportunities
Application deadlines vary by program.
HUD has over 20 competitive grant programs available that support agency initiatives such as Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Community and Economic Development, Environment and Energy, Fair Housing, Homelessness, Homeownership, Rental Assistance, Supportive Housing and Services:
FY2023 and FY2024 Authority to Accept Unsolicited Proposals for Research Partnerships
Deadline: June 30, 2025
More information is available on Grants.gov or HUD's Grant Information webpage.
| | |
Connecticut Children's Healthy Homes Program
Applications accepted on a rolling-basis.
The Connecticut Children's Healthy Homes Program, developed with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Connecticut Department of Housing, offers grants to improve the well-being of children. Funds can be used to address the toxins and hazards often found in older or poorly maintained homes. This program is eligible to homeowners and tenants of all income levels. Learn more and apply. Although funding may no longer be available at this time, more may become available in the future.
You may also be interested in HUD's Healthy Homes Program and other efforts in the State of Connecticut to address lead poisoning, like the CT Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
| | | |
Competitive Grants Awarded in the CRCOG Region
Learn more about grant awards coming to our region. CRCOG's GIS Team has developed an Interactive Online Map of Federal Competitive Grant Awards. This map is updated quarterly with available information about awards in our region.
As of January 31, 2025, $66.4M has been awarded to CRCOG and its Member Municipalities. Additional funding has been awarded to non-municipal entities.
More information about these grant awards is available on the map and the related Dashboard.
| | |
|
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) offers many funding opportunities each year. Explore CTDEEP's grants portal, signup to receive municipal updates from DEEP, and subscribe here to receive the Municipal Connection and other DEEP newsletters and updates.
-
Visit CRCOG's BIL Webpage for more information about many of the grants and funding opportunities featured in this newsletter.
| | |
CRCOG's Transportation Safety Action Plan/Vision Zero Survey
Your safety matters, and CRCOG wants to hear from you! CRCOG has been awarded a USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to enhance our region's Regional Transportation Safety Plan. The new SS4A grant program aims to strengthen local safety planning through the Safe System approach and its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
YOU can help shape the plan by sharing your feedback! Use our interactive map and survey to pinpoint safety concerns in the Capitol Region. Together, let’s make our roads safer for everyone.
Please also visit us at events happening in your community. The project team attends various events - learn more on the project webpage or contact CRCOG's Project Manager, Roger Krahn.
|
CT DEEP's Broadband Infrastructure Improvements for Multi-Dwelling Units
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (CTDEEP’s) Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP) is seeking input from representatives of distressed municipalities and multi-dwelling units (MDUs) to promote equitable broadband infrastructure and service across Connecticut for the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Complete the Multi-Dwelling Unit Survey to identify MDUs within distressed municipalities that could benefit from broadband infrastructure improvements. More information about this grant program is provided below.
For this program, the following CRCOG Member Municipalities are identified as "distressed":
- East Hartford
- Hartford
- Mansfield
- New Britain
- Enfield
The survey is also included on DEEP's ConneCTed Communities webpage along with this map of underserved locations in CT that are eligible for funding under this program.
|
Governor Lamont's Funding Survey
Governor Lamont has released an online reporting tool for municipalities, nonprofits, and businesses to report impacts of federal funding cuts. The state aims to compile a central database to provide lawmakers with a better understanding of how federal directives are affecting various groups, geographical regions and sectors of the economy.
|
Share Your Concerns About Federal Funding with Congressman Joe Courtney
Representative Joe Courtney has developed a survey that people can use to share their concerns about Federal funding attempted pauses.
|
State Data Plan
The Data and Policy Analytics (DAPA) unit of the State Office of Policy & Management (OPM) is updating the State Data Plan for 2025-2026, and requests feedback.
Municipal employees, contractors, and other stakeholders who use State data are encouraged to participate in this survey. This is a great opportunity to help identify barriers and share your concerns and pain points in accessing and using the data.
| | | |
350 Church St., 3rd Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
| | | | | |
