|
The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements and events along with links to the previous month's state, regional, and national resilience news.
Learn more about CIRCA at circa.uconn.edu
and the Resilient Connecticut Project at resilientconnecticut.uconn.edu
| | |
Welcome to our New CIRCA Team Members
This past summer, CIRCA hired three new team members to support our resilience efforts throughout Connecticut. We are excited to expand our team and to be able to offer more to our municipalities and partners! Meet our new team members here:
ASM Alauddin Al Azad
Research Associate 1 - Physical Oceanography, Coastal Engineering
Develops hydrodynamic and wave models for coastal flood risk assessment and resilience planning. Expertise includes storm surge, coastal flooding, sea level variability, physical oceanography, and coastal engineering. Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Jongkwan (Jacob) Kim
Research Assistant III - Hydrologic & Hydraulic Modeling
Brings 15+ years of hydrologic modeling experience from NOAA and NCAR. Specializes in distributed hydrologic models, flood inundation modeling, water forecasting, and Earth system interactions. Ph.D. in Hydrology from Utah State University.
Megan Root
Oceanographic Research Assistant I
Supports research on sea level rise, coastal flooding, and coastal resilience. Manages oceanographic instrumentation and environmental monitoring in Long Island Sound. Holds a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
| | |
Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut and Other New England States To Host Regional Nuclear Summit
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut is joining its neighbor New England states—including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont—to host a regional policy summit that will explore the potential role of advanced nuclear technologies in the region’s evolving energy system. This one-day summit—the 2026 New England Regional Nuclear Policy Summit—will bring together public and private sector experts to examine the potential for advanced nuclear technologies to support long-term energy affordability, grid reliability, economic competitiveness, and zero carbon energy, while addressing key considerations surrounding safety, regulatory oversight, community engagement, and public trust.
| | |
EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Funding
Application Deadline: Rolling
The EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program offers low‑cost federal credit assistance for large‑scale water infrastructure projects. The program supports drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, water recycling, and other projects that strengthen public health and environmental protection. The EPA has announced $7 billion in new funding, including $6.5 billion through WIFIA and $550 million through the State WIFIA (SWIFIA) Program for state infrastructure financing authorities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public utilities, state infrastructure financing authorities, private entities, and public‑private partnerships undertaking qualifying water infrastructure projects.
| |
FY2025 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity
Application Deadline: Rolling
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has nearly $1.5 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations due to hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in 2023 and 2024.
| | |
USDA: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
Application Deadline: Rolling
This program supports rural communities, nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that need help preparing for or recovering from an emergency that threatens safe, reliable drinking water. Eligible areas are rural towns with populations of 10,000 or less, tribal lands in rural areas, or colonias with household incomes below the state’s non-metro median. Funding may be used for waterline repairs, new wells, treatment plants, or other improvements to restore or secure water supplies. Applications are accepted year-round through your local USDA Rural Development office or online.
| | |
Energy Resilience Construction Grants Request for Proposals (RFP)
Letter of Intent Due: September 25, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
On August 24, 2026, DEEP released an updated Energy Resilience Construction RFP under the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund. This solicitation will award up to $24.095 million for projects that strengthen community energy resilience and deliver clear, measurable benefits that reduce the likelihood or duration of disruptive events. Eligible proposals may include a wide range of resilience measures, outlined in the RFP, designed to lessen the impacts of extreme weather, wildfires, natural disasters, or other conditions that disrupt, shut down, or compromise safe electric grid operations.
| |
|
Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program
Deadline: November 6, 2026
CT DEEP is currently accepting applications from municipalities, non-profit land conservation organizations, and water companies to the competitive Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program. Applications must be submitted by November 6, 2026, and Appraisal Reviews must be submitted by December 4, 2026. DEEP will award grants to projects that offer the highest conservation and recreational value and that leverage the greatest percentage of private and municipal funding.
| |
|
Urban Green and Community Garden Grant Program
Deadline: December 4, 2026
CT DEEP's Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program (UGCG) is available to distressed municipalities, targeted investment communities, registered non-profit organizations, and municipalities that are an environmental justice community. The program provides funding assistance to develop or enhance urban green spaces for public enjoyment and/or environmental education. Promotion of open space in an urban setting may include, but may not be limited to, the development of a community garden or reclaiming and enhancing existing open space for the public's use. Grants are awarded to projects that demonstrate the highest ability to benefit urban communities in close proximity to population centers.
| |
|
FEMA Announces $600 Million to Help Communities
Reduce Flood Risk
Deadline: May 31, 2027
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a new $600 million funding opportunity for states, territories and Tribal Nations to make their communities safer from flooding. FEMA is making this funding available through the Fiscal Year 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current funding opportunity. This program was specifically designed to expedite funding to states, territories and Tribal Nations that recently experienced a severe flooding disaster. Because floods are the most common and costly type of natural disaster, this funding is critical for communities across the country.
| | |
SCRCOG CT Green Bank Workshop - Green Schools
September 10, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join the virtual SCRCOG/CT Green Bank Workshop: Green Schools, which will focus on CT Green Bank programs that support municipalities and schools in strengthening resilience and improving energy efficiency.
| | |
Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council September Quarterly Meeting
September 16, 2026 1:00 p.m.
Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC) is an advisory council to the Commissioner of DEEP on historical and current environmental injustices across the state. The Council holds public quarterly meetings to hear updates from CT DEEP about environmental justice programs, updates on council subcommittee work, and discuss challenges that environmental justice communities continue to face.
| |
Hammonasset Beach State Park Coastal Resilience
Field Trip and Workshop
September 16, 2026 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Madison, CT
This field trip has a maximum capacity of 30 people (if exceeded, a waitlist will be available)
Sea Grant Connecticut invites participants to a field visit at Hammonasset Beach State Park, where partners are advancing one of the state’s largest coastal resilience and salt marsh restoration efforts. The program begins at Meigs Point Nature Center with presentations from Audubon Connecticut on the science behind the project, current marsh challenges, and updates on restoration, living shoreline, and culvert replacement designs. Following lunch and group discussions, attendees will join a guided walk to view the marsh and then visit several culvert sites slated for replacement.
| | |
Connecticut Climate Fest
September 19, 2026 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Parkville Market, 1400 Park St, Hartford, CT 06106
Join Sierra Club Connecticut to kick off Climate Week for a day filled with music, art, interactive activities, inspiring speakers, family-friendly fun, and opportunities to take action alongside neighbors, organizations, and community leaders.
| |
West Haven Coastal Resilience Tour
October 2, 2026 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: West Haven, CT
Sea Grant Connecticut invites participants on a tour of West Haven to see how the city is advancing coastal resilience across multiple projects. The day begins with presentations from the City Engineer, the Land Trust of West Haven, and partnering engineering firms, covering project history, funding approaches, and current progress. Attendees will then board a shuttle to visit completed, active, and planned project sites, including the West Haven Eco Park, Beach Street Elevation, Cove River Tidal Marsh Restoration, the Resilient Cove River Project, and additional stops, while hearing directly from practitioners about challenges, lessons learned, and on‑the‑ground insights.
| | |
Connect & Catalyze: Environmental Justice Resource Exchange 2026
October 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: 224 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT, 06105
Connect & Catalyze is a one‑day statewide gathering that brings together community leaders, nonprofits, funders, researchers, and government partners committed to advancing environmental justice in Connecticut. The event focuses on building relationships, sharing practical strategies, and connecting participants with the resources needed to strengthen community‑driven solutions.
| | |
EPA: Waste Reduction Model
EPA developed the Waste Reduction Model to offer high‑level comparisons of how different materials management practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and influence economic outcomes. These practices include source reduction, recycling, anaerobic digestion, combustion, composting, and landfilling.
| | State and Regional News Clips | | |
Climate Change is Turning Up the Humidity in Connecticut
NBC CT - August 7, 2026
Climate scientists say a warming climate is helping increase the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold, leading to more humid days and warmer nights across the Northeast. As temperatures rise, the air is able to retain more water vapor, creating the muggy conditions that many Connecticut residents have experienced during recent summers. For meteorologists, humidity is often measured using the dew point, which reflects the actual amount of water vapor in the air. A dew point above 65 degrees is generally considered humid, while values above 70 degrees can feel tropical and oppressive.
| | |
The Stock Market May Have a Climate Change Problem
E&E News by Politico - August 18, 2026
Climate change may be coming for your index funds, and the government is making those risks harder for investors to see, former regulators say. Spiking global temperatures are already affecting corporate bottom lines — making insurance harder to get, disrupting supply chains and lowering crop yields. Scientists say those and other climate change impacts will compound over the coming decades — especially in the absence of aggressive climate policies — and make debt and equities markets riskier. Some former regulators worry that those risks could filter through to plain-vanilla index funds and retirement portfolios.
| | |
The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut's coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP).
| | | | |
