Sustainable CT Surpasses
$4 Million Community
Investment Milestone
0ver 300 local projects supported
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Sustainable CT has surpassed $4 million in funds directly invested in community-led projects across the state.
The Community Match Fund program is a cornerstone of Sustainable CT's mission to empower communities to implement local sustainability projects. The program provides matching funds to support a wide range of sustainability initiatives, including natural resource protection, clean and renewable energy, climate resilience, food waste diversion and composting, arts and culture, public transportation, sustainable food networks, and programs promoting social justice and equity.
Since its inception in 2019, the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund has invested in over 300 local projects throughout the state of Connecticut.
The Community Match Fund leverages Sustainable CT funding alongside community investment in the form of individual, small-dollar donations to local projects. Each project runs a public crowdfunding campaign through Patronicity.com/sustainablect 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 nearly $1.9 million as a match to more than $2.1 million collected from 21,000 individual donations.
“The Sustainable CT team was available, instructive, responsive, encouraging and supportive,” said Robert Lyons with the Indaba Action Team, a racism awareness campaign based in Clinton, Connecticut. With the support of Sustainable CT, Indaba recently produced the critically acclaimed one act play Death by A Thousand Cuts: A Requiem for Black and Brown Men at the Andrews Memorial Hall Stage in Clinton...
READ the FULL PRESS RELEASE>
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Spring into Summer 2024
We're going back to where it began to bid farewell to Lynn!
Our Spring into Summer 2024 event will take place at Wickham Park in Manchester on June 11 from 4 to 7 p.m.
We're coming full circle - back to the place where we celebrated those who participated in creating Sustainable CT with a "party in the park" in July, 2017. This year, in addition to celebrating the progress Connecticut communities have made over the years, we'll also be bidding farewell to our retiring executive director and founder, Lynn Stoddard. We’ll provide light fare and good cheer, and beautiful Wickham Park will provide the ambiance. Please join us.
Our Spring into Summer 2024 event is generously sponsored by
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Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. Call 860-259-4729 to discuss options. | | |
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
May 17 at 10 a.m.
Connecticut Green Bank on organic waste management
Join Sustainable CT and the Connecticut Green Bank’s Environmental Infrastructure team for a Coffee Hour on organic waste management. Hear some examples of municipal efforts to reduce organic waste and compost, learn about the Green Bank’s interest in supporting organics recycling solutions, and provide feedback on what resources would best support your municipality in managing waste and organics. Compost never sleeps!
REGISTER for MAY 17>
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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May's IMPACT: Bryan Garcia of Connecticut Green Bank
Innovative, positive, effective
We catch up with Bryan Garcia, long-serving president and CEO of Connecticut Green Bank - a quasi-public agency that leverages ratepayer funds with private capital to offer low-cost, long-term financing for clean energy projects. CT Green Bank was the first of its kind back in 2011, and they've not let up on innovation since. Hear about the Green Bank's current and future plans to support resilient infrastructure and so much more.
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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The Community Match Fund
Send a Kid to Farm & Forest Camp this Summer!
Help Everyone Outside and Fire Ring Farm create a welcoming space for kids to spend time outside learning how to connect with nature and grow healthy food. Your support will provide priceless days of nature connection to local school-aged students for whom this experience would otherwise be inaccessible. C'mon, do it for the kids!
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LEARN MORE about the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund | | |
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Make the Equity Connection
June 20, 1-2 p.m.
Join Sustainable CT Equity Coaches for “Equity Connections” – regular opportunities 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 these bi-monthly virtual sharing sessions.
REGISTER for JUNE 20>
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Town of Ellington Designated SolSmart Silver
The town of Ellington, Connecticut was awarded SolSmart Silver designation for enacting exciting solar best practices including installing solar PV on government-owned facilities, providing property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for residents, updating zoning, permitting and inspection practices, and more. Excellent work, Ellington!
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Sustainable Essex Wins Competitive Grant for Energy Efficiency Outreach
The Sponsors of Energize Connecticut, Eversource and Avangrid, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, awarded Sustainable Essex of the Town of Essex with a $9,025 Community Partnership Grant. Congratulations, Essex!
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Sustainable Stonington Promotes Eversource Energy Audits for Businesses
Sustainable Stonington is encouraging businesses to engage with Eversource for no-cost, no-obligation energy audits. Businesses can learn about rebates and incentives to offset the costs of upgrades and installations; no-obligation recommendations on heating, HVAC, and refrigeration; and solutions for modernizing equipment and optimizing production. Find out more.
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West Hartford Tree Project 2024 a Great Success
This year's West Hartford Tree Project included 1364 trees and shrubs distributed to 372 residents... 30 volunteers... 107 donors... 3 corporate partnerships (Eversource, Acceleron, and Green Tails Market)... and a $7,500 matching grant from Sustainable CT! "The culmination of weeks of work and a great example of grassroots community action," write Ted and Carolyn Goerner. And that's what we call Made in the Shade.
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Connecticut Selected To Receive $62.5 Million for Solar Projects Benefitting Low-Income Residents
Governor Ned Lamont and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with a $62.5 million grant under its Solar for All initiative. The competitive grant program is aimed at expanding solar energy investment in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Read the full press release.
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From the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative: a Kid's Book About Ageism
Right now, each of us is getting older. Yes, each and every person on the planet! Aging is a completely normal part of living, but because of ageism, some people believe getting older is a problem or something to fear. The experience we gain as we age is a gift, and this book can help us learn to spot and stop ageism in our lives. Growing older is beautiful! Suggested for ages 5-9. Available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
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Project Drawdown 2023-24 Annual Update
Project Drawdown's 2023–24 Annual Outcomes and Outlook Report provides a snapshot of accomplishments over the past year and highlights the urgency of taking action to address climate change in the year ahead. "Every day brings new technologies, new investments, and new policies to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," writes Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, "I have never been more hopeful that we will get this done."
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Vernon Community Network Luncheon
Eat, drink and be collaborative
The Vernon Community Network will bring together community members to collaborate and share insights on May 9, 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m., at the Oasis Room, 3 Elm Street, in Vernon. Sustainable CT's Inez Ortiz will be on hand to talk about the Community Match Fund program.
RSVP TODAY>
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Sustainable CT: National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System Webinar
Join Sustainable CT and Diane Ifkovic from DEEP to learn more about how your municipality can pursue floodplain management strategies through the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (CRS). There will be information about the CRS program, available resources, and earning Sustainable CT certification points under Action 5.9. This webinar is also eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities (CCM). May 9, 1:30 p.m.
REGISTER>
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EPA Region 1 Holds Environmental Justice Virtual Resource Fair
The Region 1 virtual resource fair is an online event that will showcase the open competitive grant programs for nonprofit organizations including Community Change Grants and unique Region 1 programs including the Healthy Communities Grant Program. Connecticut attendees can participate in CT breakout rooms or connect to Community Change Grants technical assistance from the national provider, EnDyna. An online event - Wednesday, May 8, 1-4 p.m.
REGISTER>
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Green Schools Alliance Invites Applicants for Student Climate & Conservation Congress
Scholarships are available to high school students (grades 9-12) to attend this summer's Student Climate & Conservation Congress, a one-week environmental leadership program run jointly by the Green Schools Alliance and US Fish & Wildlife Service. Students learn about their connection and relationship to the land and all living things, environmental and climate justice, and develop their visions for a just and equitable future. Apply by May 15.
LEARN MORE and APPLY>
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Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Host Forum on Ending Child Poverty in CT
Hear from legislators and advocates about the accomplishments of the recent legislative session and how we can address the root causes of child poverty, including income inequality, access to healthcare, safe and affordable homes, and quality education. An in-person event - Wednesday, May 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Waterford Public Library, Rope Ferry Road, Waterford.
RSVP by MAY 8>
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CT Green Bank Hosts Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds
Connecticut Green Bank is hosting an in-person workshop about new financing opportunities unlocked by federal funds to support greenhouse gas reduction. Engage in meaningful dialogue about how federal funds can facilitate the shift towards financing for sustainable, resilient, and greener schools, school buses, other municipal facilities, and green environmental infrastructure. In-person - Thursday, May 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch provided!) at Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Dr., New Haven.
REGISTER>
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Meet the challenge, build on the work
To recognize and celebrate Earth Day this year, we held a special event to amplify the conversation around sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, offering insights from three esteemed leaders in the field: Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Congresswoman Jahana Hayes of Connecticut's 5th District; and Connecticut's senior Senator, Richard Blumenthal. Together, they not only provided an inspirational chorus to our efforts to meet the challenge of climate change, but they reminded us of how important your work is and must continue to be. As Chair Mallory put it, "We count on being able to build on the work that you are doing across Connecticut as you're tackling these issues and being able to delver a bigger positive impact for people who live in your community."
If you missed this remarkable event, please watch it here. Because we couldn't have said it better ourselves.
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