Connecticut grants for State governments

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), seeks to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. This grant program, with approximately $12 million available in 2024, aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting efforts to test innovative conservation approaches, deliver transformative projects, and engage communities that value and protect the Sound. Major funding is provided by EPA through the LISS, with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation, demonstrating a collaborative strategic approach to environmental conservation. The LISFF targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions. The impact goals are centered on improving water quality, enhancing and restoring coastal habitats, and fostering sustainable and resilient communities around the Long Island Sound. The program’s strategic priorities are guided by the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP), which emphasizes three core themes: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Cross-cutting principles of resiliency to climate change, long-term sustainability, and environmental justice are also integral to the program's theory of change. Under the "Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds" theme, the program prioritizes reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading. This includes funding for "shovel-ready" projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly those addressing water quality at a larger scale. Planning activities, such as community engagement, feasibility studies, site assessments, conceptual design, and final design and permitting, are also supported. Projects in the Upper Basin states (MA, NH, VT) are specifically focused on quantifiable nitrogen/nutrient prevention with a documented benefit to Long Island Sound. The "Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife" theme focuses on enhancing or restoring coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function, supporting fish, bird, and wildlife populations, and sustaining the Sound's ecological balance. This involves implementing "shovel-ready" habitat restoration and nature-based or green-gray hybrid resilience projects, as well as planning activities for such projects. The program also aims to foster diverse, balanced, and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife, encouraging proposals that consider the LISS Habitat Restoration Guidelines. The "Sustainable and Resilient Communities" theme supports vibrant, informed, and engaged communities through projects that offer hands-on conservation experiences. Expected outcomes include quantifiable pollutant reductions, enhanced and restored coastal habitats, increased resilience to climate change, and more engaged communities actively participating in the Sound's protection and sustainability. For water quality projects, measurable results will include quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly nitrogen/nutrient reductions. For habitat projects, long-term maintenance plans and ecological improvements are expected. The LISFF's strategic framework, rooted in the CCMP, aims to accelerate local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, environmental justice, and community outreach, ultimately leading to a healthier, more productive, and resilient Long Island Sound for both people and wildlife.

Grant Title: NIST MEP is seeking applications to establish and manage Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers in designated states to provide essential services that enhance the productivity, innovation, and competitiveness of small and mid-sized manufacturers.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Connecticut municipalities and regional entities for projects that improve waste management infrastructure and promote recycling and waste reduction initiatives.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received FY2023 funding from Congress for the sole purpose of managing and improving the understanding of submerged aquatic invasive grasses with focus on Hydrilla, Milfoil, and Elodea. The Northeast Region is managing $250,000 of these funds. The Service is seeking proposals that address Hydrilla infestations in the Connecticut River.Hydrilla was first detected in the Connecticut River in 2016. The Connecticut River stretches from the Canadian border through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, finally emptying into Long Island Sound. With 38 main tributaries, the watershed plays an important role in New Englands identity. Funds made available through this grant opportunity will support the following priority goals:Prevention of further spread of hydrilla into inland and tributary watersExpansion of surveillance in the Connecticut River and to tributaries and nearby watersEarly detection surveillance in tributaries and nearby waters.Rapid response efforts supporting control and eradication of new infestationsManagement and containment of existing populationsImprove awareness and affect behavior of water users through education and outreach initiatives.

This grant provides funding to Connecticut communities for projects that increase urban tree cover and improve environmental sustainability, particularly in underserved areas.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and recognized tribes in Connecticut for small-scale public humanities projects that promote community engagement and understanding of history and culture.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, governments, and educational institutions for projects that restore and sustain healthy rivers, forests, and grasslands to support diverse wildlife in the Northeast.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to choreographers in New England for projects that enhance their dance practice or advance their careers, with grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 for various artistic endeavors.

This program provides funding to expand broadband access in underserved communities across Connecticut, focusing on low-income households and small businesses to ensure they receive fast and reliable internet service.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, local governments, and educational institutions in the Long Island Sound region to implement projects that restore and protect the environment, improve water quality, and engage communities in conservation efforts.

This initiative provides funding to individuals and organizations in Granby, Connecticut, to empower the community in addressing local needs through collaborative projects that promote civic engagement and inclusivity.

This funding opportunity provides matching financial support to municipalities, regional councils, and agricultural non-profits in Connecticut for projects that enhance agricultural viability and sustainability in the state.

This grant provides funding for innovative environmental projects that promote preservation, conservation, restoration, and education in the Lower Connecticut River Valley, targeting eligible nonprofits, municipalities, and schools in specific towns.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofits and public agencies in designated U.S. states to initiate and promote community-driven historic preservation projects.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects in the Appalachian region that protect wildlife habitats and enhance ecological connectivity, targeting community organizations, municipalities, and tribal nations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and schools focused on improving mobility access for individuals with disabilities, as well as initiatives in education and environmental sustainability.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in New England to support public performances and community engagement activities featuring regional artists.

This grant provides funding to government entities and nonprofit organizations for projects that protect land, enhance community resilience, and support conservation planning in the Appalachian Trail region.