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Funding Newsletter
September 2026
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Working together for a better region
Funding Opportunities for Municipalities
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In this issue
Open opportunities
Congratulations
Requests for input
Plans & studies
Maps & dashboards
What we're watching
| AT A GLANCE | more info below |
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Twenty-one state and federal programs are open for brownfields, transit, pedestrian and public safety, energy, water, wastewater, harbor, and open space projects — with deadlines running from September 23 through December 4. Three highlights are below; the full list follows in Open Opportunities.
Also in this edition: Congratulations to Bloomfield, New Britain, Suffield, West Hartford, and Marlborough on Community Connectivity (CCGP), State Local Bridge, and Transportation Rural Improvement (TRIP) awards, plus a $500,000 EPA supplement to CRCOG's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (now $2.25 million); two requests for input — CRCOG's 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, including a public meeting October 1, and a survey open through October 8, and DEEP's Clean Water Fund Intended Use Plan (comments due October 19); CRCOG core plans and studies to strengthen your applications; an expanded set of grant dashboards and trackers; and several items we're watching — federal surface transportation reauthorization, which expires September 30, new Brownfields into Greenfields and EPA Brownfields rounds expected this Fall, the next Community Investment Fund round, Digital Equity Act broadband funding anticipated in December, and BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) now moving to construction.
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Three to watch this month
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Due October 9 · Letter of Support due October 1
PROTECT Competitive Grant Program
FHWA · Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation · $787M available · 80/20 cost share
Make surface transportation more resilient to storms, flooding, wildfire, and extreme temperatures. Four categories including Planning Grants, which require no cost share.
Apply ›
Due September 23
FY 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grants
U.S. EPA · nonprofits, municipalities & workforce partners
Deliver training that recruits, trains, and places local unemployed and under-employed residents in environmental field jobs — sustainable remediation, chemical safety, and site preparation for brownfield revitalization. EPA has posted a sample application format and a recording of its August 6 outreach webinar.
Apply ›
Due December 1
Energy Resilience Construction Grant Program
CT DEEP · up to $24.1M available · $10,000–$6,000,000 per applicant
Combined state and federal funding for construction projects that strengthen the resilience of Connecticut's electric grid. The widest award range open this month, and DEEP intends to issue grants covering the subawardee cost match.
Apply ›
Full list of open opportunities below ↓
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| Open opportunities | Sorted by deadline |
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FY 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grants
U.S. EPA · nonprofits, municipalities & workforce partners
Recruit, train, and place local unemployed and under-employed residents in environmental field jobs — sustainable remediation, chemical safety, and site preparation for brownfield revitalization.
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Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP) — Round 6
Connecticut Port Authority · opens Sep 1
Grants for municipal water-dependent and harbor improvement projects — docks, boat launches, dredging, and public access. Coastal and riverfront municipalities eligible.
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MENTOR-Futures Maritime Education Grants
Connecticut Port Authority · up to $5,000 annually
New sponsorship program funding organizations serving PreK–12 students for maritime education — field trips, workshops, camps, and career exploration to build interest in Connecticut's maritime workforce.
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2026 Community Energy Boost Grant
CT DEEP / Eversource–partnered
Boosts local awareness and participation in home energy programs through trusted community partners.
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PROTECT Competitive Grant Program
FHWA · Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation · $787M · 80/20 cost share
Plan for and make surface transportation — highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail — more resilient to severe storms, flooding, drought, wildfire, extreme temperatures, sea level rise, and other changing conditions. Four categories: Planning ($79M), Resilience Improvement ($551M), Community Resilience & Evacuation Route ($79M), and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure ($79M). Local governments, MPOs, public transit agencies, and port authorities are eligible.
Planning Grants require no cost share, and projects covered by a Resilience Improvement Plan may see the local match drop to as low as 10%. Connecticut prepared a Connecticut Resilience Improvement Plan that can support municipal applications. CRCOG is working with NVCOG, NECCOG, and NHCOG on an inland Regional Resilience Improvement Plan. Requests for a CTDOT Letter of Support are due October 1.
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Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA)
CT DEEP · municipalities, land trusts, water companies
Helps acquire land for open space and water-supply protection. Appraisal reviews due Dec 4.
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Energy Resilience Construction Grant Program
CT DEEP · up to $24.1M available · $10,000–$6,000,000 per applicant
Combined state and federal funding, through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40101(d), for construction projects that strengthen the resilience of Connecticut's electric grid. Issued August 24, 2026 as part of the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund. Subawardees receiving a subaward must match 100% of the amount of the subaward, except small utilities selling no more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours per year must match one-third. DEEP intends to issue grants covering the subawardee cost match.
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Urban Green & Community Garden (UGCG)
CT DEEP · distressed municipalities, EJ communities, nonprofits
Develop or enhance urban green spaces for public enjoyment and environmental education.
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Clean Water Fund
CT DEEP · grants & low-interest loans
The state's primary source of funding for municipal wastewater projects — treatment plant upgrades, sewer rehabilitation, combined sewer overflow abatement, and related infrastructure. Projects are funded from DEEP's priority list; contact DEEP early to have a project added.
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Sustainable CT Community Match Fund
Sustainable CT via Patronicity · $1-to-$1 match
Matches community fundraising dollar for dollar, up to $6,000 for a $12,000 total project. No formal application, no deadline, and minimal reporting — projects are reviewed as submitted. Open to residents, town staff, nonprofits, schools, and libraries in Sustainable CT registered municipalities, for projects aligned with the action roadmap.
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UConn TAB Municipal Assistance Program
UConn Technical Assistance to Brownfields · free assistance
Free technical assistance delivered through UConn's Brownfield Redevelopment course — brownfield inventories, summaries of environmental records, site reuse assessments, record reviews, grant preparation, and community engagement materials. Open to all New England communities on a seasonal application cycle.
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Community-Wide Assessment Grant for States & Tribes (CWAG ST)
CT DEEP via U.S. EPA · no-cost assessments, not a cash grant
DEEP conducts brownfield assessments on behalf of municipalities and other eligible entities at no cost — Phase I, II, and III Environmental Site Assessments, hazardous building material surveys, remedial action plans, cleanup and reuse planning, and community outreach. Sites must meet the state brownfield definition under C.G.S. 32-760, qualify under CERCLA 104(k), and be located in an underserved community.
DEEP is prioritizing projects east of the river, but will consider any Connecticut site that meets the requirements. Requests are reviewed on an ongoing basis while funding remains available.
Complete the Request for Brownfields Assistance form and email it, with any attachments, to DEEP.Brownfields@ct.gov — include the requestor name and project address in the subject line. Questions: Amanda Limacher, amanda.limacher@ct.gov.
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CRCOG's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program
U.S. EPA · administered regionally by CRCOG
Low-interest loans and subgrants are available for cleanup at brownfield properties.
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EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA)
U.S. EPA · technical assistance, not a grant
EPA contractors perform site assessment work directly, at no cost to the municipality — useful for reducing uncertainty about contamination before committing to a redevelopment project.
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Siting Clean Energy on Brownfields
CT DEEP / PURA
Financing, incentives, guidance, and liability protections for pairing clean energy development with brownfield reuse. Includes a screening tool for candidate sites.
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FEMA Hazard & Emergency Preparedness Grants
FEMA · Flood Mitigation Assistance, AFG, SAFER, Fire Prevention & Safety, EOC
A family of programs supporting mitigation, fire departments, and emergency operations. Municipalities eligible.
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HUD Community Capacity & Healthy Homes
U.S. HUD · Section 4, Rural Capacity Building, Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes, Youth Homelessness
Capacity-building and healthy-housing programs for communities and their partners.
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DOJ Public Safety Grants
U.S. DOJ · COPS Office, Office for Victims of Crime, OVW
A variety of open opportunities that support law enforcement, victim services, and violence-prevention efforts. Municipalities eligible.
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EDA Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance
U.S. Commerce – Economic Development Administration
Infrastructure and economic-recovery investments. Local governments, COGs, and districts eligible.
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EPA Rural, Small & Tribal Wastewater TA
U.S. EPA · technical assistance
Technical assistance for small and rural communities managing wastewater systems.
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Programs and policy developments not yet open, but worth preparing for. CRCOG will share application details as they're released.
Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization
National · some federal programs will expire September 30, 2026
The current federal surface transportation law (IIJA) expires September 30, 2026, and new bills are under review and consideration by Congress. Congress passed a continuing resolution that will fund some programs through December 11. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has approved its new bill, the BUILD America Act (HR 8870), but the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee does not anticipate releasing text from their bill until after the November mid-term elections. Both chambers will need to adopt multi-year transportation bill to replace IIJA.
AMPO BUILD America Act Guide›
CTDOT Community Connectivity Grant Program (CCGP)
CTDOT · $15M · anticipated November 2026
CCGP provides construction funding between $100,000 and $800,000 to municipalities for bicycle, pedestrian, and transit accommodations in urban, suburban, and rural community centers. Since 2018 the program has awarded 172 grants totaling more than $84 million. CTDOT expects to announce the next round in November, with awards in April, pending Bond Commission approval.
CTDOT is refreshing program guidelines, scoring criteria, and the application this fall, and is considering awarding points to first-time applicants. Staff will solicit feedback through the COGs — contact CRCOG if your community has input or a recently completed study identifying eligible improvements.
Program page ›
CTDOT Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP)
CTDOT · $10M · next round anticipated January 2027
TRIP provides state funds between $300,000 and $2,000,000 to rural and small-town municipalities for transportation capital projects — construction, modernization, or major repair of infrastructure. Since 2022 the program has awarded 27 grants totaling approximately $30 million. The next round is expected to be announced in January, with awards in July.
CTDOT is considering expanding eligibility requirements for this round and will gather COG feedback this fall.
Program page ›
Brownfields into Greenfields Grant Program
CT DEEP · new funding round anticipated September/October 2026
DEEP is expected to announce a new round of Brownfields into Greenfields funding in September, supporting the conversion of contaminated or underused sites into parks, open space, community gardens, and other green uses. Municipalities with a candidate site may want to begin scoping now — CRCOG will share the announcement once it posts.
DEEP brownfield funding sources ›
Community Investment Fund (CIF)
CT DECD · next round timing to be announced
CIF supports brownfield remediation, affordable housing, clean energy, and infrastructure development in historically underserved communities. CRCOG will share details once a new round of funding is announced.
Program page ›
EPA Brownfields Assessment & Cleanup Grants
U.S. EPA · FY27 solicitations anticipated soon
EPA has announced that FY27 solicitations for Community-Wide Assessment Grants, Revolving Loan Fund Grants, and Cleanup Grants will publish soon, with applications due roughly 60 days after each is posted. Funds inventory, characterization, and assessment of brownfield sites, and remediation at sites the applicant owns. Municipalities and COGs are eligible.
Program page ›
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Commerce · $1.25 billion program · applications anticipated December 2026
A new Notice of Funding Opportunity is anticipated in December 2026 for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant program, which supports broadband adoption efforts by local governments and nonprofits, digital skills training, device subsidies, and similar work.
Municipalities interested in broadband adoption projects may want to begin scoping now. CRCOG will share the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once it posts.
BEAD Broadband Deployment
NTIA / U.S. Commerce · new bidding round announced September 3
Commerce has now approved all 56 state and territory spending plans under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, covering 3.79 million locations nationwide — about 63% slated for fiber, 22% satellite, 13% fixed wireless, and 2% cable. States are finalizing contracts with grant winners, and construction follows.
NTIA has now announced that states will use some remaining BEAD funds on a new round of deployment projects, aimed at rural locations that were not marked eligible for bidding last year but still lack service. NTIA said it will outline other allowable uses in a future update. Municipalities with unserved rural areas should flag them to the state and expect deployment and utility coordination as Connecticut's projects move forward.
Connecticut BEAD program page ›
Congratulations to the following towns and cities selected to receive awards:
U.S. EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund · $500,000 to CRCOG
EPA has awarded CRCOG an additional $500,000 in supplemental funding for our Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, bringing the total award to $2.25 million. The fund provides subgrants to member municipalities and loans to other eligible Connecticut applicants for environmental cleanup projects. Contact CRCOG if your community has a site that may qualify.
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CTDOT State Local Bridge Program · $16.8M statewide
State grants to 11 towns and cities for the reconstruction of 13 bridges on locally owned roads, covering 50% of project costs. In our region: Suffield, $778,179 to replace the Hickory Road bridge over Fourmile Brook, and $841,929 to replace the Copper Hill Road bridge over an unnamed stream; and West Hartford, $978,075 to replace the Old Brook Road bridge over Mountain Farms Brook. About the program ›
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CTDOT Community Connectivity Grant Program · Round 8 · $10.8M to 17 towns
Announced June 12, 2026, for projects improving accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. In our region: Bloomfield, $804,523 for Gabb Road Traffic Calming and Sidewalk Connectivity; and New Britain, $788,210 for Vision Zero New Britain Pedestrian Traffic Signal Safety Improvements. Separately, CTDOT has authorized construction on CCGP projects in Simsbury ($584,471, Firetown Road sidewalk gap closure), New Britain ($794,400, West Main Street), and Berlin ($780,000, Kensington transit-oriented development sidewalks). About the program ›
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CTDOT Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP) · $10M to 9 towns
The Town of Marlborough was awarded $508,780 for the South Road Culvert Replacement project to prevent road closures and overtopping during heavy storm events.
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Federal awards in our region
$81.4M
to CRCOG & members
| Federal competitive grants awarded to communities across the Capitol Region. |
Explore the awards map ›
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Ground your application in an adopted regional plan. These CRCOG plans align with this month's opportunities.
How are we doing?
We revamped this newsletter to make funding opportunities easier to find and act on. Six quick questions, under a minute — your answers will shape future editions.
Share your feedback
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Planning to apply?
Tell us which grants your municipality is interested in pursuing. Sharing your intent early helps CRCOG provide technical assistance, letters of support, and coordination with neighboring towns on regional applications.
Intent to Apply Form
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This newsletter was created with assistance from AI, and reviewed by CRCOG Staff.
Capitol Region Council of Governments
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