Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA)

Helps acquire land for open space and water-supply protection. Appraisal reviews due Dec 4. Applications can cite CRCOG's Regional Plan of Conservation & Development.

Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) Grants

Supports resilience projects led by small and community-based organizations, which must partner with a local or regional government and an approved practitioner from the Adaptation Registry. CSCI takes a broad view of resilience and is looking to fund more New England projects this round, with emphasis on hazards other than inland flooding, such as coastal flooding and fire.

Municipalities can take part as the required government partner. The LOI is much shorter than the full application. The adaptation practitioner, who must apply to join the Registry by the LOI deadline, should lead the submission with community partners.

Energy Resilience Construction Grant Program

Combined state and federal funding, through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40101(d), for construction projects that strengthen the resilience of Connecticut's electric grid. Released August 26, 2026 as part of the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund. Subawardees must match 100% of the federally funded portion of their subaward; small utilities selling no more than 4,000,000 megawatt hours per year match one-third. DEEP intends to issue grants covering the subawardee cost match.

For towns that filed a Letter of Intent: the mandatory Letter of Intent was due October 2, 2026, and only those who filed may submit a proposal by December 1. DEEP's responses to submitted questions are posted under the "Addendum Document" heading — search for solicitation number DEEP-2027-003-SW on the CT Source Bid Board. Bidders must be registered with CTSource. Projects can cite CRCOG's Regional Climate Action Plan.

Byrne JAG Local Level Program

Justice Assistance Grant funds for local police initiatives focused on community safety and preventing gun violence. Open only to municipalities and federally recognized tribes. Each municipality's maximum request is set by a formula based on crime rate relative to population — check the allocation table on OPM's program page for your town's cap. Hartford, New Britain, and East Hartford receive direct federal JAG awards and are not eligible for this local-level round. Grants are awarded to the town, city, or tribe.

Apply through the state's Euna Grants platform; only one person per municipality should register, so check whether your town already has an account. Questions: CJPPDJAG@ct.gov.

Community Investment Fund 2030 (CIF) — Round 10

Supports economic development in historically underserved communities; projects can draw on CRCOG's Regional Housing Strategy and CEDS. Eligible municipalities, nonprofits, arts and culture organizations, and community development corporations may apply. All Round 10 applications must go through the Euna application portal; DECD will not accept SharePoint folders or other submissions.

Applicant office hours run 2 to 3 pm on November 11, 18, and 25 and December 2. DECD encourages applicants to review the NOFA and schedule a one-on-one appointment with CIF staff.

Urban Green & Community Garden (UGCG)

Develop or enhance urban green spaces for public enjoyment and environmental education. Open to select underserved communities listed in the UGCG guidelines; 50:50 match required.

For projects focused on urban forestry, such as tree planting, tree inventories, or urban forestry planning, DEEP Urban & Community Forestry can contribute staff time toward the match. First confirm eligibility with Arthur Sanchez and Cameron Clegg at DEEP Open Space, copying DEEP.UCF.Grants@ct.gov. Applications can cite CRCOG's Regional Plan of Conservation & Development.

UConn TAB Municipal Assistance Program — Spring 2027

Free technical assistance delivered through UConn's Spring 2027 Brownfield Redevelopment course (January–May): brownfield inventories, summaries of environmental records, site reuse assessments, record reviews, grant preparation, and community engagement materials. Open to all New England communities. Questions: uconn-tab@uconn.edu.

FY 2027 EPA Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF & Cleanup (MARC) Grants

EPA is accepting applications for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants, which help turn vacant and abandoned properties into community assets. Municipalities and COGs are eligible. Applicants must include a State Letter from CT DEEP, and a Petroleum Eligibility Determination where petroleum funding is requested — request both early. Applications can cite CRCOG's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

EPA hosts two live webinars on the Narrative Criteria Responses, with no registration needed: November 9 at 1 pm for Community-wide Assessment, Assessment Coalition, and Community-wide Assessment for States and Tribes; and November 12 at 2 pm for RLF and Cleanup. Pre-recorded videos on the submission process and threshold eligibility are on EPA's application resources page. Questions: brownfields@epa.gov.

2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Program

Incentivizes the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment, such as public works trucks, school buses, and construction equipment. Eligible activities include retrofitting or replacing existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with EPA- or CARB-certified or verified technologies. Projects can cite CRCOG's Regional Climate Action Plan.

Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands

Encourages collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. Projects should reduce wildfire risk, improve fish and wildlife habitat, maintain or improve water quality and watershed function, or address invasive plants, insects, and disease. In Connecticut these proposals usually come through DEEP Forestry, with municipalities joining as partners — contact DEEP Forestry early. Projects can cite CRCOG's Regional Plan of Conservation & Development.

FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) — FY 2026

Reduces repeat flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Funds capability and capacity building ($20M), localized flood risk reduction projects ($260M), and individual flood mitigation projects ($120M). Federal share is 100% for severe repetitive loss properties, 90% for repetitive loss, and 75% for other projects.

Municipalities must participate in the NFIP in good standing and have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan, such as CRCOG's Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan. DEMHS hosts a kick-off meeting November 6 from 9 to 10 am and office hours Mondays, 11 am to noon, through February 8. Questions: demhs.hmgp@ct.gov.

National Fish Passage Program

Technical and financial assistance to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic connectivity — culvert replacements, removal of obsolete or dangerous infrastructure such as dams, floodplain restoration, and fishways. Projects also reduce flood risk and improve roads. Local agencies and nonprofits are eligible; contact the Regional Fish Passage Coordinator for Connecticut, Catherine Bozek, or the program contact, Alexander Jones to discuss a project before applying.

Connecticut Urban Forest Network Grant Support

A new grants specialist helps municipalities and nonprofits pursue urban forestry funding: finding opportunities, developing project concepts, narrative writing and review, budgets, and post-award reporting. Monthly virtual office hours are open to all, and the specialist will provide direct support to at least five communities each year.

Historic Preservation Survey & Planning Grants

Funds historic preservation planning work done by a qualified consultant: historic resources inventories (match waived), National or State Register nominations, local historic district reports, municipal historic preservation planning reports, and pre-development studies such as historic structures reports, adaptive reuse and feasibility studies, condition assessments, and architectural plans and specifications. Plans and specifications prepared to construction-bid level can support a later Historic Restoration Fund application.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and go to the Historic Preservation Council, which meets the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Mary Dunne (860-500-2356) before applying to discuss funding availability and eligibility.

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program

Funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage serving households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Open to state and local governments.

Clean Water Fund

The state's primary source of funding for municipal wastewater projects — treatment plant upgrades, sewer rehabilitation, combined sewer overflow abatement, and related infrastructure. Projects are funded from DEEP's priority list; contact DEEP early to have a project added.

Sustainable CT Community Match Fund

Matches community fundraising dollar for dollar, up to $6,000 for a $12,000 total project. No formal application, no deadline, and minimal reporting — projects are reviewed as submitted. Open to residents, town staff, nonprofits, schools, and libraries in Sustainable CT registered municipalities, for projects aligned with the action roadmap.

Community-Wide Assessment Grant for States & Tribes (CWAG ST)

DEEP conducts brownfield assessments on behalf of municipalities and other eligible entities at no cost — Phase I, II, and III Environmental Site Assessments, hazardous building material surveys, remedial action plans, cleanup and reuse planning, and community outreach. Sites must meet the state brownfield definition under C.G.S. 32-760, qualify under CERCLA 104(k), and be located in an underserved community.

DEEP is prioritizing projects east of the river, but will consider any Connecticut site that meets the requirements. Requests are reviewed on an ongoing basis while funding remains available.

Complete the Request for Brownfields Assistance form and email it, with any attachments, to DEEP.Brownfields@ct.gov — include the requestor name and project address in the subject line. Questions: Amanda Limacher. Requests can cite CRCOG's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

CRCOG's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program

Low-interest loans and subgrants are available for cleanup at brownfield properties, supporting redevelopment priorities in CRCOG's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 

EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA)

EPA contractors perform site assessment work directly, at no cost to the municipality — useful for reducing uncertainty about contamination before committing to a redevelopment project. Requests can cite CRCOG's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Siting Clean Energy on Brownfields

Financing, incentives, guidance, and liability protections for pairing clean energy development with brownfield reuse. Includes a screening tool for candidate sites.

FEMA Hazard & Emergency Preparedness Grants

A family of programs supporting mitigation, fire departments, and emergency operations. Municipalities eligible.

HUD Community Capacity & Healthy Homes

Capacity-building and healthy-housing programs for communities and their partners.

DOJ Public Safety Grants

A variety of open opportunities that support law enforcement, victim services, and violence-prevention efforts. Municipalities eligible.

EDA Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance

Infrastructure and economic-recovery investments. Local governments, COGs, and districts eligible.

EPA Rural, Small & Tribal Wastewater TA

Technical assistance for small and rural communities managing wastewater systems.