Get to know Granby, CT, A Climate Hub Conversation, Community Event Recaps, New Faces at CRCOG + More News

October 22, 2026 | Issue 10

The CRCOG Connection

Connect. Engage. Share.

CRCOG on LinkedIn | CRCOG on X | CRCOG on Facebook | CRCOG on YouTube

Get to Know the Town of Granby, CT

Drive down CT-189 North and you'll see this welcome sign as you enter the town.

Did you know the town of Granby has more than 40 square miles of countryside? Nestled along Connecticut's northern border, the town combines rural beauty, rich history, and a strong sense of community. Settled in 1723 as part of Simsbury, Granby incorporated as its own town in 1786.

Today, Granby is known for its scenic farmland, rolling hills, historic character, and welcoming neighborhoods. It’s home to several hiking trails, including local favorite the Metacomet Trail.

Granby operates under a Selectmen-Town Manager form of government, a system it has used since 1960. The town's legislative authority rests with a five-member Board of Selectmen, while the Town Manager oversees day-to-day operations. First Selectman Mark Fiorentino works alongside fellow board members and Town Manager Michael Walsh to guide the community's future.

This newsletter is an 8-minute read. Happy reading!

Take Two: East Granby’s First Selectperson Jason Hayes Talks Lights, Camera, and Strategy for Connecticut’s Film Industry

With the help of Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, East Granby First Selectperson Jason Hayes welcomed back municipal leaders, state agencies, legislators, union leaders, and industry professionals. What was the difference this time? We heard from a panel of Connecticut-based artists and film industry experts. This was the second event in a three-part series.

The discussion centered around a presentation about the benefits of focusing on economic development for Connecticut’s film industry. Hayes, a 30-year film, television, and theater veteran and IATSE member, laid out his vision: an East Granby soundstage that anchors a New England production hub and spreads economic benefits across the region. Read the full article.

North Hartford Partnership Takes Action on Climate Resilience

Greater Hartford nonprofit and community leaders in attendance.

North Hartford sits at ground zero for Connecticut's clean energy transition. It also sits at ground zero for gaps in community preparedness. The North Hartford Partnership (NHP) wants to close those gaps, and it is joining forces with strategic partners in Bridgeport and New Haven to do it. Brenda Watson, Executive Director of the North Hartford Partnership, along with consultants Vanessa Daye and Andrea Hawkins, welcomed nonprofits and other community stakeholders to learn about their initiative.

Through their Climate and Community Resilience Hubs of Connecticut Initiative, NHP, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, and Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises launched a 14-month planning phase funded by M&T Bank. Their goal: a replicable, community-driven model for resilience hubs across Connecticut's urban neighborhoods.

Read the full article.

CTrides Expands TDM Support for New Development

New development brings added traffic, parking demand, and congestion, and Connecticut municipalities are often the ones left to manage it. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) maximizes the efficiency of the existing transportation system by influencing how and when people travel to and from a site. Done well, it lowers costs and gives people more transportation options without requiring new road or parking capacity. TDM works best when it's built into a project early, while plans are still taking shape, rather than added after approval.

CTrides, Connecticut's statewide TDM program, has long connected residents and employers to the transportation options and resources that work best for them. This year, CTrides is extending that work to municipalities and developers with a new, no-cost service focused on new development. It includes:

Workshops and training for municipal staff and boards
Ready-to-use ordinance language and model policies to adapt
A TDM Plan Template and Site Plan Review Checklist for evaluating new development proposals
Technical assistance to help municipal staff apply TDM tools during site plan and development review

To get started, contact Sarah Roy at sarah.roy@ctrides.com.

Save the Date: Urban Forestry Workshop Coming to the Capitol Region

Join us for the Urban and Community Forestry Peer Learning Exchange for the Capitol Region! This interactive event, supported by The Nature Conservancy, CRCOG, and other partners, will be an opportunity to:

Share urban and community forestry successes and challenges
Advance transformative urban forestry project ideas
Build connections
Learn about innovative funding models

This free workshop is intended to help advance urban and community forestry initiatives and will bring together local organizations, municipal staff, and community leaders to discuss urban forestry, find alignment between urban forestry and other local initiatives, share learnings and approaches, build connections, and advance transformative project ideas for the health and well-being of Connecticut residents. Lunch will be provided.

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Time: 9 am – 1 pm

Location: The Lyceum; 227 Lawrence Street, Hartford (in-person)

Target audience: Local organizations, community leaders, and municipal staff engaged in urban and community forestry work in Connecticut.

Learn more and Register. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sonya Carrizales.

CRCOG Recap of The Greater Hartford Civility Summit

The Greater Civility Summit opening. Pictured on stage from left to right: Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser, two Kid Governor Cabinet members, and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

On September 16, the CRCOG Foundation hosted the Greater Hartford Civility Summit, a half-day event focused on building stronger communities through dialogue, leadership, and action. More than 125 registrants gathered at West Hartford Town Hall to hear from local officials and experts in communication, civility, and equity through panel discussions and breakout sessions.

Watch the recorded event.

Get to Know Avery and Jeff, Two New Faces at CRCOG

We’re excited to welcome and introduce you to two faces at CRCOG. Meet Avery Holzworth, part-time Waste Regional Coordinator and Jeff Dyreson, Food Scraps Education and Outreach Coordinator, are new members of the Municipal Services Department.

Avery Holzworth is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the University of Connecticut’s School of Public Policy with a strong passion for policy research and community engagement. Her experience spans several organizations, including Sustainable CT, the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG), the Office of Congressman Joe Courtney, and the Connecticut Green Bank.

She currently serves as a Planning and Advocacy Intern with the Partnership for Strong Communities and is eager to support efforts that raise awareness about Connecticut’s solid waste challenges and the practical solutions communities can implement to address them.

Outside of her policy work, Avery enjoys setting big goals and embracing new challenges. Her dream vacation? A trip to Italy’s Dolomites. She brings the teamwork and determination she built playing college rugby to everything she does.

Jeff Dyreson joins CRCOG with more than 20 years of experience in environmental education, sustainability leadership, and community engagement. Originally from Wisconsin, he earned his bachelor's degree in Ecological Principles from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in Environmental Education from Northern Illinois University. Today, he also shares his passion with the next generation as an Ecology and the Environment instructor at Eastern Connecticut State University.

An educator at heart, Jeff believes solutions are built together and is enthusiastic about creating practical, collaborative approaches to environmental challenges.

CRCOG Anniversaries

Kim Bona is celebrating nine years with us.

As a Program Manager in the Municipal Services Department, Kim manages the Capitol Region Purchasing Council and is responsible for organizing the monthly meetings of the Municipal Services Committee. In addition, Kim oversees the CRCOG Crumbling Foundation Reimbursement Program. Congrats, Kim. Thank you for all you do.

CRCOG Funding Opportunities

State and Federal Funding Opportunities

Have you read the latest funding newsletter ? It has an exciting new look! Tell us what you think and sign up to receive future issues or view the archives. Contact Elizabeth Sanderson for more information or for help applying for a grant. Here are some featured opportunities:

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) funding opportunities:
Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA), due November 6, 2026. Learn more.
Urban Green & Community Garden (UGCG), due December 4, 2026. Learn more.
Brownfield Funding Opportunities:
CRCOG’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund Program (RLF) - CRCOG has issued a Request for Applications to fund brownfield cleanup projects. Loans and subgrants are available. Applications will be accepted until funds are obligated. Learn more .
Coming soon – Financial assistance from the U.S. EPA for assessment and cleanup projects is expected to be announced this Fall. CRCOG anticipates applying for funds for environmental assessments.