LISCIF’s Connecticut State-Wide Learning Exchange

March 17 @ 9:30am – 4:30pm

The Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is hosting the Connecticut State-Wide Learning Exchange, a full day and in person gathering focused on “People of the Sound.” This event will bring together tribal groups, organizations, institutions, and community members to discuss needs, environmental impacts, and community access along the Long Island Sound estuary, while identifying resources and opportunities for capacity building. The event is free and open to the public. Please register to help the organizers plan for dietary, interpretation, and childcare needs.

3rd Annual SRC Regional Funding Workshop: Long Island

March 18 @ 9:30am – 2:30pm

Please join the Long Island Sound Partnership and NY Sea Grant Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team at the 3rd Annual Long Island Funding Workshop! The event is free and lunch will be provided.

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM (lunch will be provided)

Location: Hyatt Regency Long Island (1717 Motor Parkway Hauppauge, NY)

Registration is required

Attendees will hear from program officers representing various local, state, and Long Island Sound funding organizations and be able to engage in discussions with funders to explore project ideas and ways to improve funding applications. Attendees will also hear from a panel of successful awardees about their experiences and strategies. The workshop is intended for municipal officials and staff, nonprofits, community organizations, and other interested parties.

View the Draft Agenda for the list of featured funding opportunities!

Email lisresilience@gmail.com with questions.

New Land Cover (Part 2): Land Cover Change and Trends in the Long Island Sound Watershed

March 19 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm

This is the second webinar in UConn CLEAR’s two part series introducing their updated land cover tracking tools. Using data from the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD), this session explores how land cover across the entire Long Island Sound watershed has changed from 1985 through 2023, covering regions from Connecticut to the Canadian border.

This webinar highlights trends at the watershed, state, town, and local levels, with special attention to the 300 foot riparian zone along waterways, a critical area for stream health and climate resilience. The session will demonstrate how to interpret land cover change data using CLEAR’s map viewer and dashboards to better understand long term environmental patterns.

2026 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference

March 21 @ 8:00am – 5:15pm

The 2026 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference brings together land conservation advocates, municipal leaders, and environmental organizations for a full day of training, networking, and knowledge sharing. Participants will explore strategies and partnerships that support land conservation efforts across Connecticut. The conference provides opportunities to learn from experts, attend workshops, and connect with others working to protect natural landscapes. It is a space for sharing ideas and building collaborations that strengthen conservation work across the state.

A waitlist is available at the conference website:

Conference – Connecticut Land Conservation Council

3rd Annual SRC Regional Funding Workshop: Connecticut

March 31 @ 10:00am – 2:30pm

Please join the Long Island Sound Partnership and the CT Sea Grant Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team at the 3rd Annual Long Island Funding Workshop! The event is free and lunch will be provided.

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm (lunch will be provided)

Location: Gateway Community College – Curran Community Room (N100), 20 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510

Registration will be required by March 26th

Attendees will hear from program officers representing various local, state, and regional funding organizations and be able to engage in discussions with funders to explore project ideas and ways to improve funding applications. Attendees will also hear from a panel of successful awardees about their experiences and strategies. The workshop is intended for municipal officials and staff, nonprofits, community organizations, and other interested groups in the Long Island Sound region.

Draft Agenda:

• Lightning Talk Presentations from Funders – local, state, federal, and Long Island Sound-focused funding opportunities
• Lunch (provided)
• Successful Awardees Panel – Hear from communities that have been successful in applying to these grant opportunities
• Roundtable Discussions – Participants encouraged to interact with funders and panelists

Featured Funding Opportunities:

• Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
• Congressionally Directed Spending 
• CT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team (CTBILT) & CT Fed Funds Team
• CT DECD Community Investment Fund
• CT DECD Office of Brownfield Remediation & Development
• CT DEEP CERCLA 128(a) Brownfield Grant Program
• CT DEEP Climate Resilience Fund
• CT DEEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program
• CT DEEP Recreational Trails
• CT DEEP Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants
• CT DEEP Urban Green & Community Gardens Grant Program
• CT Federal Funding Planning Team
• CT Land Conservation Council
• Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund
• Long Island Sound Futures Fund
• Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund
• New England Environmental Finance Center
• UConn Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB)

Email lisresilience@gmail.com with questions.

LISCIF’s Annual Region-Wide Learning Exchange

June 25 @ 9:30am – 4:30pm

The 3rd Annual Learning Exchange hosted by the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is a collaborative, in person event designed to bring together current and past grant recipients, partners, and community stakeholders working to improve the Long Island Sound region. The event focuses on knowledge sharing, peer learning, and strengthening connections among organizations engaged in environmental justice, climate resilience, and community based solutions. Through facilitated discussions and interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their work, exchange best practices, and explore shared challenges and successes.

This free event is intended specifically for LISCIF grantees and invited partners and emphasizes accessibility and inclusion, with accommodations available upon request. By fostering dialogue and collaboration across diverse organizations, the Learning Exchange aims to build capacity, encourage cross sector partnerships, and support long term, community driven impact throughout the Long Island Sound watershed.