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May 1, 2023 - v. 3, number 6 |
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Sustainable CT Community Match Fund Surpasses
$3 Million Investment in Connecticut Communities
More than 250 local projects supported
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Sustainable CT has surpassed the $3 million mark in investment in local projects through its Community Match Fund.
The Community Match Fund leverages institutional funding alongside community investment in the form of individual, small-dollar donations to local projects. Each project runs a public crowdfunding campaign to engage the community and secure half the funding needed to complete its work. Sustainable CT then matches every dollar raised. To date, Sustainable CT has committed $1.4 million as a match to more than $1.6 million collected from over fourteen thousand individual donations.
"Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund has been an excellent resource in making several of our Green Jobs projects possible," said Candace Wright, Executive Director of Solar Youth, Inc., a New Haven-based youth development initiative. "For a small non-profit such as ours, it’s not always easy to secure matching fund opportunities which can be leveraged so quickly to inspire others in the community to give."
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CT Communities Challenge Grant Program Deadline is May 3
The application deadline is here - don't miss it! This is a competitive grant program ($1M - $10M in size) to improve livability, vibrancy, convenience, and equity in communities throughout the state.
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Connecticut Green Bank webinars highlight solar
Connecticut Green Bank will be hosting three webinars that will cover the Residential Solar Investment Program, solar loans, leases, and third-party ownership programs, as examples of models to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deliver benefits to low-income communities, and mobilize private capital leveraging public funds.
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Residential Solar Investment and Deployment in Connecticut: An In-Depth Review of a 10-Year Incentive Program
Register to receive an in-depth review of a residential solar incentive program administered by the Green Bank. Thursday, May 4, 12 - 1 pm.
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Financing Residential Solar in Connecticut #1: Insights into Loan Programs
Register for the second webinar of the series that will focus on the role of financing, delving deeper into the structure and benefits of two loan products: the CT Solar Loan and the Smart-E Loan. Monday, June 5, 12 - 1 pm.
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Financing Residential Solar in Connecticut #2: Insights into Lease and Third-Party Ownership Programs
Register for the final webinar in the series that will focus on two lease products: the CT Solar Lease and Solar for All. Thursday, August 3, 12 - 1 pm.
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US Army Corp. of Engineers Sponsors CT Flood Awareness Workshops
Workshops are intended for local Emergency Management Directors, Chief Elected Officials, Local Planning and Zoning Officials, Town Engineers and organizations that work with underserved populations. These workshops will provide awareness and understanding of coastal, inland and urban flood risk with the goal of protecting life and property. All workshops are held from 8:00am to 4:00pm. These are in-person events.
>>May 4, 2023 - Fairfield County Regional Fire School, 205 Richard White Way, Fairfield, register here.
>>May 23, 2033 - United Illuminating Company,100 Marsh Hill Road, Orange, register here.
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Eversource's First Thursdays Communities Webinar Series: Energy Efficiency for New Construction
Eversource will walk attendees through an overview of energy efficiency for new construction and renovation projects, benefits, currently available offerings and incentives; they'll share details on recent projects and how the new construction process works from start to finish. Thursday, May 4, Noon-1pm.
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Sustainable CT Climate Leader Webinar: Resources to Accomplish Action 3.9 Manage Woodlands and Urban Forests
Action 3.9, Manage Woodlands and Urban Forests, was updated for the 2023 certification cycle and is included in Sustainable CT's Climate Leader Designation. Join Danica Doroski, State Urban Forester from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to learn about urban forest management and resources available to help your municipality complete Action 3.9. June 8, 10-11am.
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Virtual Equity Training Series Now Available for Summer
This is a free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series. Summer sessions are now available: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on June 14, July 12 and August 3. Topics will include: Belonging, Racial Equity, Access, Diversity & Inclusion (Be READI) as a municipal strategic priority; assessing your town's culture; and exposing common barriers to Be READI. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Only register if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.
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South Central Regional Council of Governments Newsletter
The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) April newsletter is chock-a-block full of important information - on available grants, upcoming workshops, conversations with Very Helpful People, and much more. Don't miss it.
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DOE: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency. $550M is "available until expended."
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DEEP: Take the Avid Outdoor Enthusiast Survey
Central Connecticut State University, in partnership with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, seeks your input for the 2023-2028 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). As an outdoor enthusiast, you are invited to share your thoughts and experiences on outdoor recreation in Connecticut through a brief online survey.
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Sterling Street Sanctuary: at the Heart of the Hartford Community
The Trust for Public Land is working with KNOX Inc. and Upper Albany residents to safeguard 1.2-acre parking lot turned community space. Show them some love!
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Sustainable CT featured on Hamden Library podcast
Our own Lynn Stoddard was the guest on Hamden Public Library's "Earth Day Mini Episode" podcast on April 21st. She talked Sustainable CT, of course, but also how we support towns - webinars workshops, Equity Coaches, funding and more. Give a listen!
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This month: we were very lucky to go back to the future with Richard Johnson to talk about his four decades of community service in the Town of Glastonbury. His is a legacy of land preservation, fiscal soundness and energy savings that serves as inspiration to us all. Be sure to listen.
This month's episode of the IMPACT will be available on May 15 at sustainablect.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Spring into Summer!
We’re celebrating the newness of things.
Come meet our new Equity Coaches and our newest class of Sustainable CT Fellows. We’ll be acknowledging our newest cohort of Certified Communities, too, with the participation of our Board of Directors and the entire Sustainable CT team. We’ll provide music, light fare and good cheer as we revel in Glastonbury’s “brownfield to boathouse” success story. June 1, 3-6pm at the Glastonbury Boathouse. REGISTER TODAY and help us spring into summer!
This event is generously supported by
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For a limited time, Sustainable CT is boosting its Community Match Fund grants for all food waste diversion and composting projects. For every dollar raised to promote composting, Sustainable CT will match it, not just dollar-for-dollar, but with a dollar-and-a-half – up to a total project budget of $15,000. This opportunity is only available May 13 - August 13, so don't delay in asking how you can benefit!
The kickoff of our "match fund 1+" program coincides with the opening of our first Community Leadership and Action Conference at the Free Center in Middletown on May 13. Project leaders, activists, visionaries and funders are urged to register to attend to share strategies and ideas to improve the quality of life in the Middletown region. Additional conferences are planned throughout the summer for Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, New London and Waterbury.
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Our Community Leadership and Action Conferences are generously sponsored by |
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
May 19 at 10am
Winning federal grants: we can provide support; tell us what additional support you need
Federal IRA and IIJA grant opportunities can feel complicated and overwhelming. How can you figure out which grants can help your town and where to get the help you really need to access these funds? Join us to learn about the many no-cost support tools available from Sustainable CT and our partners. And tell us what you - Connecticut towns - need to be able to successfully win grant money from this unprecedented investment in municipal infrastructure, climate solutions, clean energy and more.
Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
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For more fun and informative May events,
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Equity coaching is available |
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A free - and invaluable - resource
Equity coaching support services are available at no cost to your town. Coaches are a fabulous resource and can help you with Sustainable CT's equity requirements and so much more. They can help you build strong connections with underrepresented community members to shape project proposals for state and federal grant funding, and for meeting the White House's Justice40 goals. Contact Jess LeClair with questions or to be connected with an Equity Coach: jessical@sustainablect.org, 860-259-4767.
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Actions & Impact is 100% chatbot-free. We think. |
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