Welcoming Five New Members to
the Sustainable CT Board of Directors
Vision, guidance, governance
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A new year brings new faces to our prestigious Board of Directors (pictured above, left to right): Dave Dickson, director of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research; Matthew Fulda, executive director of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments; Joshua Kelly, CEO of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action; Abby Piersall, town planner for the Town of Clinton; and Michael Purcaro, town administrator for the Town of Vernon.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation go out to the departing members of our Board for their faithful service and wise counsel: Pete Bass, mayor of the Town of New Milford; Hamsa Ganapathi of Milford; Sam Gold, director of the Lower Connecticut River Council of Governments; Laura Hoydick, mayor of the City of Stratford; Courtney Lindberg, former deputy director of public works of Manchester (served on the Board until June 2023); Calvin Price of Madison; and Ted Shafer, director of economic development for the Towns of Winchester and Barkhamsted. We know they will continue to play a vital role in Sustainable CT’s mission.
As a group, our Board of Directors' commitment to fostering environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic vitality reflects their understanding of the interconnected nature of sustainability. They provide indispensable vision, guidance, and governance to Sustainable CT, and through their leadership, our Board members play a crucial role in inspiring communities across Connecticut to embrace sustainable practices, creating a lasting impact for current and future generations.
READ MORE>
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
January 19 at 10 a.m.
Program updates for 2024 are complete!
We kick off the new year with a review of program updates for 2024, and a conversation on how Sustainable CT has simplified and streamlined its application process. Featuring Kate Richard, Program Manager for Sustainability Best Practices.
REGISTER for JANUARY 19>
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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January's IMPACT: Cindy Lignar, Newly Elected First Selectwoman of Chester
Cindy helps us ring in the New Year
As a newly-elected First Selectwoman, Cindy Lignar's plate is pretty full these days, but she's graciously made time to chat with us. Prior to her election, Cindy headed the Chester Sustainability Team, demonstrating achievement in 12 sustainable impact areas ranging from inclusive community building and thriving local economies to vibrant arts and culture and well-stewarded lands. Please join us for a conversation about all things sustainability in the Silver certified town of Chester.
This month's episode of the IMPACT will be available on January 15 at sustainablect.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Community Match Fund
The year in review - 2023
In 2023 alone, we supported 65 projects across Connecticut, resulting in an investment of nearly a million dollars in renewable energy, the arts, natural resources, equity & inclusion, public transportation, sustainable food systems, composting and waste reduction, and more! We've compiled all of our 2023 projects in an interactive flipbook - to inform, to energize, to inspire. Check it out, and let us know how we can help make your New Year bright with a Community Match Fund project in 2024!
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LEARN MORE about the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund | | |
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Optimizing for Equity
Join us for a conversation about equity
Join Sustainable CT Equity Coaches for “Equity Connections” – your opportunity to share your questions about equity actions, challenges, successes, or just listen to the conversation, and get ideas on how to approach or deepen your equity work. Municipal officials, staff, and Sustainability Team members are welcome to join the Sustainable CT team for this virtual sharing session. Thursday, February 1, at 10 a.m.
REGISTER TODAY!>
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Ms. LeClair Goes to Washington
Our senior program director, Jessica LeClair, will be taking part in the Biden Administration's "Communities in Action - Rebuilding a Better America" event at the White House on January 10. It's one of a series of events that brings local elected officials and community leaders to the White House to highlight the investments of the Biden-Harris Administration and their impacts in communities throughout the country. Jess will have the opportunity to share the work we're doing to assist Connecticut communities, and learn ways to continue partnering with the Biden-Harris Administration to enhance our impact. Stay tuned for pictures and updates.
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Patron in the City: An Interview with Diana Martinez
In 2023, Diana Martinez, Project Manager at Cultivating Justice, launched the crowdfunding campaign EggUcation Series: Cultivating BIPOC Farmers to help 15 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), women, and low-income people become Connecticut farmers. The campaign raised $6,400 from 85 patrons. By reaching their crowdfunding goal, the project unlocked a 1:1.5 matching grant from Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund, for a total of $15,400 to make the project a reality.
READ PATRONICITY'S INTERVIEW with DIANA MARTINEZ>
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We-ha.com: West Hartford Tree Project Gearing Up for Year 4
Ronni Newton had a great piece in we-ha.com on the West Hartford Tree Project - a Community Match Fund-supported project. Ted Goerner and his wife, Carolyn, founded the West Hartford Tree Project several years ago, and a fundraising campaign is now underway for the fourth year of the program with the goal of being able to provide more than 1,000 trees and shrubs – free of charge – to any West Hartford resident or business.
READ the ENTIRE ARTICLE>
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Sustainable States Network Now On Linkedin
The Sustainable States Network, of which Sustainable CT is a proud member, brings together state-level sustainability, clean energy, and climate programs to share strategies, resources, and best practices. Follow them on Linkedin.
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Partners for Places Matching Grants Available
The Funders Network (TFN), in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), is pleased to announce the opening of the latest round of the Partners for Places grant program, connecting community groups, place-based funders and local governments. Matching awards provide partnership investments between $45,000 and $150,000 for one-year projects, or between $75,000 and $180,000 for two-year projects. An informational webinar is being held at 3 p.m. ET, January 17. Register here. The deadline to submit proposals is February 27, 2024.
Invitation to Apply
Application Form
Budget Form
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Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Annual Summit
The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Annual Summit will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. A limited number of complimentary student tickets are also available.
REGISTER TODAY>
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EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebates
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a Clean School Bus Rebate Program to eligible entities to subsidize the purchase of a zero-emission or clean school bus, eligible infrastructure, and other costs, including workforce training, that meet the requirements of the program. Rebates allow selectees to receive awarded funds before purchasing the buses and associated infrastructure. Eligible entities include public school districts and third parties. The EPA plans to award at least $500 million through this rebate competition. Application Deadline: January 31, 2024 by 4:00 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION>
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DEEP Dollars: Aquatic Invasive Species/Harmful Algal Blooms Grants
The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's Lakes, Rivers and Ponds Preservation Account provides competitive grants to state agencies, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations to support control/management projects, research projects, and education and outreach projects related to aquatic invasive species and harmful algal blooms. Applications must be submitted electronically to DEEP.AISGrants@ct.gov by January 31, 2024.
Download the RFP
Download the Fillable Application Form
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Equity Training Workshops for 2024
Sustainable CT is pleased to offer three, three-part virtual equity workshop series in 2024. These events provide a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Attendance at all three sessions of a series is required. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives.
Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. Attendance at each series is capped at 35. This will be a live training series and will not be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session. More information is available.
Attendance in any of these workshop series is eligible for points under Action 1.2 Participate in Equity Training. Contact info@sustainablect.org with any questions.
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