LISCIF Connecticut State-Wide Learning Exchange

February 24 @ 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.

Compound Flood Hazard Mapper Workshop – Eastern CT

February 27 @ 9:30am – 11:30am

Join us to learn about the US Geological Survey’s new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. During this two-hour, in-person workshop, you’ll hear about the hazards to your community of compound flooding and how to utilize this new online tool in everyday decision-making. We will walk through scenarios and provide time to explore, ask questions, and give feedback. 

This session is geared towards municipal/COG staff, planners, engineers, local decision-makers, and other impacted stakeholders.

Date: February 27, 2026

Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am

Location: Stonington Community Center (The COMO) | 28 Cutler Street, Stonington, CT 06378

Other Important Details: 

• Continental breakfast provided starting at 9am. 
• There will be interactive portions of this workshop; we strongly recommend that attendees bring their own laptop or tablet.  If you are unable to bring your own laptop, we can provide a tablet. 
• Travel expense reimbursement of up to $150/person is available on a first-come, first-served basis (for those that do not have travel budgets through their employers). 
• This event has limited capacity (if exceeded, a waitlist will be available). 
• Both sessions will cover the same information – please select the session time that works best for you!

Compound Flood Hazard Mapper Workshop – Western CT

February 27 @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Join us to learn about the US Geological Survey’s new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. During this two-hour, in-person workshop, you’ll hear about the hazards to your community of compound flooding and how to utilize this new online tool in everyday decision-making. We will walk through scenarios and provide time to explore, ask questions, and give feedback. 

This session is geared towards municipal/COG staff, planners, engineers, local decision-makers, and other impacted stakeholders.

Date: February 27, 2026

Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Location: Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point | 1 Milford Point Rd, Milford, CT 06460

Other Important Details: 

– Food and refreshments will be provided. 

– There will be a raffle prize drawing at the end of the session. 

– Travel expense reimbursement of up to $150/person is available on a first-come, first-served basis (for those that do not have travel budgets through their employers). 

– If you are unable to bring your own laptop, we can provide a tablet. 

– This event has limited capacity (if exceeded, a waitlist will be available). 

Both sessions will cover the same information -please select the session time that works best for you!

Compound Flood Hazard Mapper Workshop – Nassau County

March 2 @ 3:00pm – 7:00pm

Join us to learn about the U.S. Geological Survey’s new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. During this in-person workshop, you’ll hear about the hazards to your community of compound flooding and how to utilize this new online tool in everyday decision-making. We will walk through a scenario and then you will have time to explore, ask questions, and provide feedback. 

This workshop is geared towards municipal staff, planners, engineers, local decision-makers, and other impacted stakeholders.

Date: Monday, March 2, 2026

Session 1: 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Session 2: 5:00 – 6:30 pm 

Location: Port Washington Public Library | Lapham Meeting Room | 1 Library Dr, Port Washington, NY 11050

Other Important Details: 

– Refreshments will be provided. 

– If you can, please bring a laptop or tablet to follow along during the training.

Register by Tuesday, February 24th to secure your spot. Both sessions will cover the same information -please select the session time that works best for you!

This workshop is being hosted by New York Sea Grant and the U.S. Geological Survey, with funding from Long Island Sound Partnership. For questions or more information, email Sarah Schaefer-Brown (sarahschaefer-brown@cornell.edu) or Kathleen Fallon (kmf228@cornell.edu).

Compound Flood Hazard Mapper Workshop – Suffolk County

March 3 @ 9:30am – 11:30am

Join us to learn about the US Geological Survey’s new Compound Flood Hazard Assessment Mapper. During this in-person workshop, you’ll hear about the hazards to your community of compound flooding and how to utilize this new online tool in everyday decision-making. We will walk through a scenario and then you will have time to explore, ask questions, and provide feedback. 

This session is geared towards municipal staff, planners, engineers, local decision-makers, and other impacted stakeholders.

Date: March 3, 2026

Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am

Location: Stony Brook University Innovation and Discovery Center | 2nd Floor Conference Room | 500 Innovation Rd. Stony Brook, NY 11794

Other Important Details: 

– Coffee and a light breakfast will be provided starting at 9am.

– If you can, please bring a laptop or tablet to follow along during the training.

– This event has limited capacity (if exceeded, a waitlist will be available).

Register by Wednesday, February 25th to secure your spot! 

This workshop is being hosted by New York Sea Grant and the US Geological Survey, with funding from Long Island Sound Partnership. For questions or more information, email Elizabeth Hornstein (elizabeth.hornstein@cornell.edu) or Kathleen Fallon (kmf228@cornell.edu).

New Land Cover (Part 1): Map Viewer and Data Dashboards for CT and Beyond

March 5 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm

This is a webinar hosted by UConn CLEAR that introduces a new interactive land cover tool for exploring land cover and land cover change across Connecticut and the entire Long Island Sound Watershed. The platform features a new map viewer and data dashboards powered by the recently released Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD), developed by the USGS and federal partners. Users can analyze land cover trends from 1985 through 2023 at both the watershed and town level, with additional insights into land near waterways using a 300 foot riparian zone analysis.

This session is the first in a two part webinar series that will demonstrate how to use the new datasets and tools. The public release of the platform is anticipated in early 2026, and it will be available on the CT ECO land cover page. The webinar will be presented by Emily Wilson and Qian “Rachel” Lei Parent of UConn CLEAR and will take place on Thursday, March 5 at 1 PM.

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 by March 11

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.

Draft Agenda:

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

Featured funding opportunities:

• Long Island Sound Futures Fund/NFWF Grants
• Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund
• NYS Environmental Bond Act Updates
• NYSDOS Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects Program and Inland Flooding and Local Waterfront Revitalization Implementation Projects Program
• NYSDOS Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
• NYSDOS Smart Growth Community Planning, Downtown Revitalization Initiative, NY Forward, and Brownfield Opportunity Area Grant Programs
• NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Project Program and Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping Grant 
• NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
• NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Assistance Program
• NYSDEC Office of Environmental Justice Grants 
• NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants
• NYS Homes and Community Renewal Grants 
• The New York Community Trust – Long Island Grants/Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund
• The Nature Conservancy Grants
• Suffolk County Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program & Land Stewardship Initiatives (WQPRP)
• Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District Funding
• Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District Part C Funding

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.

LISCIF: 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.