Resources for

Heat

Resource

Level of Effort:

Conservation Commissions and Natural Resource Resilience

This fact sheet for Conservation Commissions in Connecticut reviews the role of these commissions for enhancing the climate resilience of their communities. The resource was developed by CIRCA and covers the authority and duties of conservation commissions as well as detailing specific strategies and approaches.

Flooding
Habitat
Land Use
Nature-based Solutions
Water Quality
Planning
Recreation & Access
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jul 27, 2024

$500 - $1,000

Seed Grants Program

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Marine Debris
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Plan

Level of Effort:

Connecticut Physical Climate Science Assessment Report (PCSAR)

This study by Seth et al. provides up-to-date information on observed trends and projections of temperature and precipitation in Connecticut.

Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Extreme Weather & Storms

Funding

: Oct 12 – Dec 15, 2023

$1B total available

FY23 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants (BRIC) – New York

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program will support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. The BRIC program’s guiding principles are to support communities through capability and capacity building, encourage and enable innovation; promote partnerships, enable large projects, maintain flexibility, and provide consistency.

Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Green Infrastructure

$10-20M (Track 1), $1-3M (Track 2)

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

Economic Impacts
Environmental Justice
Policies & Regulations
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Connecticut Environmental Justice Screening Tool

Connecticut EJ Screening Tool is an interactive resource that combines both community and data-driven approach that incorporates environmental burdens and demographic indicators. This map allows users to explore the environmental health and the conditions (socioeconomic and or other distinguishing community characteristics) within a specific region, town, city, and or entire state.

The data included in this map finalize into a score that allows users to understand the relationship between the community and environmental justice. Through the presentation of this information, citizens and policymakers alike can understand what communities are experiencing and form policies that reshape these matters.

Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice

$50K-$2M for implementation grants, $10K-200K for certification grants

NYS Climate Smart Communities

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program was established in 2016 to provide 50/50 matching grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York for eligible climate change mitigation, adaptation, and planning and assessment projects. Funds are available for two broad project categories – implementation and certification. The first project category supports implementation projects related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation. The second supports planning and assessment projects aligned with NYS Climate Smart Communities certification actions.

Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Incentive Programs
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations
Wetlands
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jan 1 – Apr 15, 2023

~$1,500

EPOC 2022 Environmental Grant Program

The EPOC Grant Program provides non-profit and not-for-profit environmental advocacy groups, community based groups and environmental education organizations funding for local projects that benefit the environment.

Erosion
Flooding
Habitat
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Aquatic Resources
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Community Engagement
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure

$40,000

Healthy Communities Grant Program for New England

The Healthy Communities Grant Program is EPA New England’s main competitive grant program to work directly with communities to reduce environmental risks to protect and improve human health and the quality of life. he Healthy Communities Grant Program will achieve this through identifying and funding projects that:
– Target resources to benefit communities at risk.
– Assess, understand, and reduce environmental and human health risks.
– Increase collaboration through partnerships and community-based projects.
– Build institutional and community capacity to understand and solve environmental and human health problems.
– Achieve measurable environmental and human health benefits.

Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Community Engagement
Waste Management
Green Infrastructure

Funding

: Jul 27 – Feb 27, 2024

up to $2,000

The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals Grant Program

The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals Grant Program provides funding for local projects in Connecticut that benefit the environment. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded. Any application meeting the grant guidelines that is not successful in one cycle may reapply during any following cycle. The applications will be judged based on the environmental benefits of each project, in comparison to others. “Environmental benefits” can vary widely and successful applications have ranged from property clean-ups to environmental education.

Stormwater Management
Marine Debris
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Water Quality
Erosion
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Mar 20 – Sep 17, 2024

$1,000 - $4,000

Grow Grants Program

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Marine Debris
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Jul 27, 2024

Up to $5000

Community Match Fund

Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund is an innovative program that provides fast, flexible funding and support for engaging your community on wide-ranging sustainability projects. Eligible projects receive dollar-for-dollar matching funds from Sustainable CT.

Stormwater Management
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Planning
Incentive Programs
Infrastructure
Water Quality
Erosion
Environmental Justice
Economic Impacts
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Health Hazards
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Funding

: Jul 27 – Jun 1, 2023

$100,000 - $50,000,000

Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Forest Service received a historic $1.5 billion to its Urban and Community Forestry program to support tree-planting, urban forest planning and management, and related activities, particularly in disadvantaged communities. In April 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for competitive grants for proposals that provide equitable access to trees and nature, and the benefits they provide, especially in disadvantaged urban communities.

Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice

Funding

: Oct 12 – Jan 23, 2024

$1B total available

FY23 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants (BRIC) – Connecticut

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program will support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. The BRIC program’s guiding principles are to support communities through capability and capacity building, encourage and enable innovation; promote partnerships, enable large projects, maintain flexibility, and provide consistency.

Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Planning
Extreme Weather & Storms

Case Study

East Haddam, CT

East Haddam Community Resilience Building Summary of Findings

With support from the Nature Conservancy and Sustainable CT, East Haddam organized a Community Resilience Building process and workshop, the results of which were compiled into this summary. The team engaged with community members to determine the present hazards and vulnerabilities and identify resilient solutions.

Water Quality
Waste Management
Wetlands
Community Engagement
Policies & Regulations
Funding/Grants
Extreme Weather & Storms
Recreation & Access
Infrastructure
Erosion
Stormwater Management
Aquatic Resources
Sea Level Rise
Nature-based Solutions
Land Use
Habitat
Flooding

Plan

Level of Effort:

Suffolk County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Suffolk County and the local governments within Suffolk County developed a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan, which documents risks from natural hazards and strategies to mitigate hazards.

Erosion
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Economic Impacts
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Website

Level of Effort:

NYSDOH Extreme Heat Resources

Information from the NYS Department of Health (DOH) on extreme heat impacts and resources for the public.

Environmental Health Hazards
Extreme Weather & Storms

Mapper

Level of Effort:

NYS Disadvantaged Communities Map

This mapper, developed through the New York Climate Act, was developed by the State Climate Justice Working Group to identify disadvantaged communities to ensure that frontline and otherwise underserved communities benefit from the state’s historic transition to cleaner, greener sources of energy, reduced pollution and cleaner air, and economic opportunities. The interactive map identifies areas throughout the State that meet the disadvantaged community Criteria as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group.

Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice

Incentive Program

NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program helps local governments to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment. In addition to providing tools, resources, funding opportunities and technical assistance, the program recognizes and rewards leadership for the completion of clean energy projects and guides a path toward the Clean Energy Communities designation. Find your local CEC Coordinator to start!

Infrastructure
Incentive Programs
Funding/Grants
Policies & Regulations

Website

Level of Effort:

NOAA State Climate Summaries

The 2022 State Climate Summaries provide new information on assessment topics directly related to NOAA’s mission, specifically historical climate variations and trends, future climate model projections of climate conditions during the 21st century, and past and future conditions of sea level and coastal flooding. Select your state to find state-level information for observed changes in climate, including both long-term trends and extreme weather events.

Flooding
Sea Level Rise
Stormwater Management
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Neighborhoods At Risk

Neighborhoods at Risk is an easy-to-use website with interactive maps, charts, and resources to help communities identify neighborhoods that may be more impacted by climate change. It shows where people may experience unequal impacts from flooding and extreme heat.

Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure

Plan

Level of Effort:

Nassau County Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Nassau County Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed through a year-long interactive planning process in close coordination with stakeholders. The process included identifying the hazards of concern within the County, assessing those hazards, estimating risk, and developing a strategy to mitigate risk to these hazards throughout the County.

Erosion
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Mapper

Level of Effort:

FEMA Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT)

RAPT provides access to important data and analysis tools to support your community before, during and after a disaster.

Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Justice
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms

Story Map

Level of Effort:

EPA CREAT Climate Change Scenarios Projection Map

This Story map illustrates climate change projections, considering scenarios that factor in temperature, precipitation, extreme heat, storms, and sea level.

Flooding
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Weather & Storms

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CTEco) — CTDEEP & CLEAR

Connecticut-specific site with maps, data, and visualization tools. Contains: Blue Plan, MS4 Viewer, CT Parcel Viewer, Sea Level Rise Effects on Roads & Marshes, CT DEEP Fish Community Data – Inland Waters, CT Aquaculture Mapping Atlas, CT Coastal Hazards Viewer, Carbon Stock & Land Cover Viewer

Erosion
Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Sea Level Rise
Economic Impacts
Stormwater Management
Water Quality
Infrastructure
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Mapper

Level of Effort:

Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CIRCA)

The CCVI combines built, social, and ecological factors to identify areas that are vulnerable to flooding and heat related impacts of climate change. These mapping tools can be used to view vulnerability at both a regional scale and at specific sites to see how factors are contributing.

Flooding
Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

Climate Change and Extreme Heat

This booklet from the EPA and CDC summarizes why extreme heat is on the rise, how it might affect people, and outlines steps to prepare for extreme heat events to reduce health risks.

Environmental Health Hazards
Environmental Justice
Extreme Weather & Storms

Guidance Tool

Level of Effort:

An Extreme Heat Toolkit for Connecticut Municipalities

Provides resources that help Connecticut’s municipal leaders fill gaps in local
extreme heat planning including
1. Communication templates
2. Cooling center best practices
3. A diverse collection of policy and planning actions
4. Advice on creating a heat response plan
Also provides Connecticut-specific information on how extreme heat impacts the
health of residents, especially vulnerable people, and extreme heat safety tips.

Environmental Health Hazards
Extreme Weather & Storms
Policies & Regulations

Training

Steps to Resilience

This online information session held Sept. 19, and repeated Sept. 21, provides an introduction to resilience planning in the Long Island Sound region. It includes discussions on local climate impacts and projections, resilience planning strategies, and climate certification programs for both New York and Connecticut municipalities. In addition to the main presentation, videos of the Connecticut and New York breakout sessions can be accessed below. The presentations and other resource materials are available here.

Erosion
Flooding
Nature-based Solutions
Sea Level Rise
Environmental Justice
Stormwater Management
Incentive Programs
Extreme Weather & Storms
Funding/Grants
Wetlands
Green Infrastructure
Long Island Sound Study Sea Grant NY Sea Grant CT The Sustainability Institute Sustainable CT Cameron Engineering

Resilience Steps

Connect

LISS
EPA Sea Grant New York Sea Grant Connecticut