At a recent information session for CLCC's Connecticut Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP), I shared with the participants that bringing dollars to Connecticut’s land trusts is a top item on CLCC’s "bucket list” of services.

So it is with much excitement that we launch two new CLCC programs to do just that:

CCPP will allow land trust applicants to DEEP's Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) to apply through CLCC for a federal grant as a source of match funds.

CLCC’s Transaction Assistance Program is a developing grant program for land trusts to help cover transaction-related project costs including appraisals, surveys, title searches, etc.

The goal? To help land trusts conserve more land – land that is essential to the health of the environment, wildlife, and people alike. And with Governor Lamont’s recent announcement of the next OSWA grant round, this is an excellent opportunity to pursue your community’s priority land conservation projects and take advantage of these new grant programs.

With the state’s land acquisition efforts significantly off target, land trusts are critical to accelerating the pace of land conservation to mitigate the growing impacts of the changing climate, halt an alarming decline in biodiversity, keep air and water clean, and improve the quality of life and strength of the economy in every community across the state.

Now is the time to tackle your land conservation project bucket list. We look forward to working with you every step of the way.

Enjoy the 4th!

CLCC is developing the Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) Program - a new grant program for land trusts to provide funding for transaction-related project costs including appraisals, surveys, title searches, etc. Demand for the program will help to determine the available funding. Proposals due July 15.

Connecticut Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP) will establish a coordinated process by which land trust applicants to CT DEEP's Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) may apply for a federal grant through CLCC as a source of match funds.

CT DEEP is accepting applications for the next round of the competitive Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition and Urban Green and Community Garden Grant Programs. Applications due September 30.

The America the Beautiful Challenge is a public-private grant program for locally led ecosystem restoration projects including watershed restoration, resilience, equitable access to nature, workforce development, corridors and connectivity, and collaborative conservation. Land trust acquisition or conservation easement projects are eligible but must be in service of a broader restoration/conservation goal in order for a grant proposal to be competitive. Please contact Yaw for further insights. Proposals due July 21.

CLCC staff will be at the Seaside Sounds for Environmental Justice festival. Come by, visit our table, and enjoy this first "annual community empowerment festival to promote collaborative action for environmental justice, climate resilience, land stewardship, and community health and wellness."

This webinar will cover ethical, practical and legal reasons why people with disabilities should be included in your land trust's culture and programming; different types of disability and how to connect with people in your community; and elements of program design and developing partnerships. Free to land trust staff, volunteers and board members in New England.

What kind of insurance policies does your land trust need? Do your current policies adequately protect against your biggest risks? Learn the basics, including policy must-haves and coverage red-flags. Ample Q&A time will offer you a forum to ask about your most pressing concerns. Cost is free for Land Trust Alliance member land trust staff, volunteers and board members. Register here

Registration is now open for the 2022 National Land Conservation Conference in New Orleans. If you are planning to attend, please contact Aaron so we can add you to the invite list for the Connecticut dinner.

Thanks to our fabulous panelists, sponsors, and all of you who joined us for candid, insightful, and inspiring conversations at the 2022 CT Land Conservation Conference. Session resources and recordings are now available.

CLCC and the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy are pleased to share a new report entitled, "A Path to 30 x 30 in Connecticut" developed by Yale School of the Environment graduate students Annie Miller and Shannon Bell.

The researchers used data from more than 1400 towns and cities in New England from 1990 to 2015 finding that the impact of new land protection on local property tax rates was small in most communities.

This template library contains a number of sample policies specific to Connecticut land trusts. Organized under Standards & Practices categories of Governance, Finance, Stewardship and Transactions, the samples are actual policies currently in use by land trusts in Connecticut.

American Farmland Trust invites farmers and farm landowners to participate in this anonymous survey on solar siting in Connecticut. Deadline: July 15

Help AMC collect data for multiple iNaturalist projects, including the newly launched New England Trail Nature Watch which allows hikers to contribute long-term data on flowering and fruiting time of target plants along the NET corridor using citizen science app iNaturalist.

The Governor's Council on Climate Change (GC3) is calling for members for its 2022 working groups. All new individuals interested in joining the GC3 working groups and individuals who served previously, should fill out the survey to confirm their interest in participating in 2022. Deadline: July 15

Multiple Internships – Steep Rock Association

Land Protection Specialist – Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy

Multiple Positions – Conservation Law Foundation

State Geologist – CT DEEP

Community Engagement & Communications Manager – New Canaan Land Trust

Land Steward – Greenwich Land Trust

Vice-President of Programs - Save the Sound

Conservation Internships – Highstead Foundation