Capitol Region Council of Governments
Funding Newsletter
July 2026
Working together for a better region

Funding Opportunities for Municipalities

AT A GLANCEmore info below

Fourteen state and federal programs are open for forestry, housing, brownfields, transit, energy, water, and harbor projects — with deadlines running from August 3 through December 4. Three highlights are below; the full list follows in Open Opportunities.

Also in this edition: Congratulations to several CRCOG municipalities, including New Britain, Marlborough, East Hartford, Enfield, and Plainville; a request for input on CRCOG's 2027 Legislative Agenda (responses due August 14); CRCOG core plans and studies to strengthen your applications; interactive maps and dashboards; and a policy update on federal surface transportation reauthorization.

Three to watch this month
Due August 5

Greyfield Revitalization Program

CT DECD – Office of Community Development · up to $4M · $100K–$250K per project

Planning and assessment grants to convert underused commercial, retail, and office sites into housing and community-focused uses — feasibility studies, site assessments, and cost estimates. Municipalities and COGs may submit multiple projects.

Apply ›
Due August 14

Heat Pump Accelerator Community Grants

New England Heat Pump Accelerator (CT DEEP / CPRG) · $100K–$500K

Test local approaches to overcoming barriers to heat pump adoption in low- and moderate-income households. Open to local governments, nonprofits, housing organizations, and coalitions.

Apply ›
Due September 9

DECD Brownfield Program — Round 24

CT DECD – Office of Brownfield Remediation & Development · $25M total

Four programs in this round, including Municipal Grant – Remediation & Limited Assessment (now up to $6M), Assessment-Only, a Targeted Brownfield Development Loan, and Area-wide Revitalization Planning. Questions due August 12.

Apply ›
Open opportunitiesSorted by deadline
Aug
3

Urban Forest Resilience Grant

CT DEEP – Urban & Community Forestry · up to $30,000 · 50:50 match

Remove dead, declining, or hazardous trees and replant to restore canopy (minimum 1:2 replacement). Open to CT municipalities that are members of the Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut.

Aug
3

PRO Housing (Pathways to Removing Obstacles)

U.S. HUD · $5M–$10M awards · $50M nationwide

Removes barriers to housing production — new units, related infrastructure, rehab, and planning (planning capped at 10%). State & local governments, COGs, and MPOs eligible. New geographic prioritization applies.

Aug
5

Greyfield Revitalization Program

CT DECD – Office of Community Development · Planning & Assessment grants

Repurpose underused or obsolete commercial, retail, and office space. This round funds planning and assessment activities only.

Aug
14

Heat Pump Accelerator Community Grants

New England Heat Pump Accelerator (CT DEEP / CPRG) · $100K–$500K

Test approaches to overcome local barriers to heat pump adoption in low- and moderate-income households. Local governments, nonprofits, housing organizations, and coalitions eligible.

Aug
26

HUD Continuum of Care Program

U.S. HUD · homelessness assistance

Funds housing and services to reduce homelessness. States, local governments, and nonprofits eligible.

Aug
31

Resilient Forestry Practices Grant

CT DEEP – UCF (IRA-funded) · up to $150,000 · no match

Improve management of municipally owned forest — species composition, best practices, and mitigating stressors. Open to towns under 50,000 people; a forest management plan by a CT-certified forester is required.

Sep
1

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (LWCF – ORLP)

CT DEEP / National Park Service · $300K–$15M · 1:1 match

Federal program (relaunched in 2026) reimbursing land acquisition or development for public outdoor recreation. Authorized annually through 2031.

Sep
9

FTA Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program

Federal Transit Administration

Funds projects improving coordinated transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. Local governments and transit providers eligible.

Sep
9

DECD Brownfield Program — Round 24

CT DECD – OBRD · $25M total · questions due Aug 12

Four programs: Municipal Grant – Remediation & Limited-Assessment (up to $6M, raised from $4M), Assessment-Only ($200K), Targeted Brownfield Development Loan ($6M), and Area-wide Revitalization Planning ($200K). Attend the webinar Jul 28.

Sep
21

FTA Buses & Bus Facilities / Low- or No-Emission

Federal Transit Administration

Capital funding to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related facilities, including zero-emission vehicles. Transit agencies and local governments eligible.

Sep
30

Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP) — Round 6

Connecticut Port Authority · opens Sep 1

Grants for municipal water-dependent and harbor improvement projects — docks, boat launches, dredging, and public access. Coastal and riverfront municipalities eligible.

Oct
1

2026 Community Energy Boost Grant

CT DEEP / Eversource–partnered

Boosts local awareness and participation in home energy programs through trusted community partners.

Oct
7

Cooperative Watershed Management Program

U.S. Interior – Bureau of Reclamation

Funds watershed groups to develop and implement watershed management projects. Local governments and nonprofits eligible.

Nov
6

Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA)

CT DEEP · municipalities, land trusts, water companies

Helps acquire land for open space and water-supply protection. Appraisal reviews due Dec 4.

Dec
4

Urban Green & Community Garden (UGCG)

CT DEEP · distressed municipalities, EJ communities, nonprofits

Develop or enhance urban green spaces for public enjoyment and environmental education.

Dates
vary

Federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grants — 2027

CT DEEP – Boating Division

Reimbursement grants for pump-out stations and facilities that help recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage. Municipalities and marinas eligible.

Dates
vary

FEMA Hazard & Emergency Preparedness Grants

FEMA · Flood Mitigation Assistance, AFG, SAFER, Fire Prevention & Safety, EOC

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

Dates
vary

HUD Community Capacity & Healthy Homes

U.S. HUD · Section 4, Rural Capacity Building, Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes, Youth Homelessness

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

Dates
vary

DOJ Public Safety Grants

U.S. DOJ · COPS Office, Office for Victims of Crime, OVW

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

Dates
vary

EDA Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance

U.S. Commerce – Economic Development Administration

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

Dates
vary

EPA Rural, Small & Tribal Wastewater TA

U.S. EPA · technical assistance

Technical assistance for small and rural communities managing wastewater systems.

What we're watching

Programs and policy developments not yet open, but worth preparing for. CRCOG will share application details as they're released.

Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization

U.S. Congress & U.S. DOT · federal programs expire September 30, 2026

The current federal surface transportation law (IIJA) expires September 30, 2026, and Congress is working to reauthorize the highway, transit, and rail programs that fund much of the region's infrastructure. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has approved its bill, the BUILD America Act (HR 8870); the Senate is developing its own version. Some senators have floated attaching a short-term extension to a continuing resolution to avoid a lapse.

Learn more ›
RECENT AWARDS

Congratulations to the following towns and cities selected to receive awards:

DECD Brownfield Program · Round 23 · $15.2M statewide

In our region, East Hartford, Enfield, New Britain, and Plainville won funding to remediate and redevelop brownfields.

DEEP Climate Resilience Fund · Round 2 · $5.1M

Awarded to 14 municipalities, regional entities, and nonprofits statewide for projects protecting communities from flooding, extreme heat, and wind, including $337,197 to the North Hartford Partnership to establis a community and energy resilience hub at the Swift Factory; and $553,093 to the Town of Wethersfield to redesign areas along the Silas Deane highway to address recurring flooding issues.

DEEP OSWA & UGCG · $9.4M + $2.4M

Preserving 1,243 acres of open space across 15 communities and improving 15 urban green and community garden spaces, including projects in Berlin, Hartford, New Britain, and Vernon.

FHWA BUILD Grant · New Britain

Congratulations to the City of New Britain on being selected to receive a federal BUILD grant from the Federal Highway Administration. The city was awarded $14.7M for the Route 174 Congestion Mitigation and Safety Improvements Project.

CTDOT Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP) · $10M to 9 towns

The Town of Marlborough was awarded $508,780 for the South Road Culvert Replacement project to prevent road closures and overtopping during heavy storm events.

Federal awards in our region
$81.4M
to CRCOG & members

Federal competitive grants awarded to communities across the Capitol Region.

Explore the awards map ›

Requests for your input

CRCOG's 2027 Legislative Agenda

CRCOG seeks input from representatives of our member municipalities to help prepare our 2027 Legislative Agenda for the CT General Assembly.

For reference, view a copy of CRCOG's 2026 Legislative Recap and CRCOG's 2026 Legislative Agenda.

Contact Omari Lewis to request a link to access the survey. Survey responses are requested by August 14, 2026. We appreciate your input and assistance as we identify priorities in our region!

A note from the Grants Coordinator

This newsletter was redesigned with assistance from AI, and reviewed by CRCOG Staff. If you would like help matching a project to a program or reviewing a draft application, just reach out — Elizabeth Sanderson, AICP RLA

Not sure where to start?

CRCOG offers free technical assistance to member municipalities — matching projects to programs and reviewing applications before you submit.

Request assistance
Capitol Region Council of Governments