Steven Perry, an analyst with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Kimberly Bradley, Connecticut Trails and Greenways program coordinator, told the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments board on Sept. 11 about three state grant rounds that municipalities and nonprofits can apply for this fall.

The presentations covered the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant (OSWA), the Urban Green Community Gardens grant (UGCG) and the Connecticut Recreational Trail Grant Program; each is funded by state bonds and has different eligibility, matching and deadline rules. "It provides 65% of the fair market value," Perry said of one acquisition program, describing the typical state share and the higher share available in environmental-justice or distressed areas.

Why it matters: The grants are common funding sources for municipal conservation, greenway and trail projects and can cover large acquisition or construction costs. DEEP staff emphasized that small nonprofits and neighborhood groups can be competitive applicants for the urban green grants and that trail funds can be matched with federal dollars where appropriate.

Key details reported by DEEP staff:
- OSWA (Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition) is intended for permanent protection of ecologically or recreationally valuable open space; it typically funds 65% of fair market value but can fund 75% in environmental-justice census tracts, distressed municipalities or target investment communities. Perry said application narrative portions are due Nov. 3 (initial survey) and appraisals due Dec. 1 for this round and noted a shortage of certified appraisers that can delay projects beyond the funding window.
- Urban Green Community Garden grants are targeted to projects in distressed or targeted investment communities, will accept reimbursement requests for some application and closing costs in those areas, and have a Dec. 17 application deadline. Perry said the application is short and accessible: "This is a 3 page application. Anyone in this room can do it in, like, an hour." He and DEEP staff urged municipalities to promote the program to local nonprofits.
- The Connecticut Recreational Trail Grant Program, administered through State Parks and the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, funds planning, design, construction, maintenance and accessibility improvements; it is a reimbursement program with flexible match options and an anticipated Dec. 19 deadline. Bradley said municipalities, nonprofits, state departments and tribal governments are eligible and that the program has historically been competitive.

Application and match rules described included accepting municipal in-kind labor or volunteer hours toward match, allowance for prior project funding as match in some circumstances, and requirements that project sites be owned by the applicant or covered by a formal agreement (deed or lease). DEEP staff also noted forthcoming guidance maps and webinars; Bradley said a grant overview webinar is scheduled Oct. 16 and that the trail grant round would open soon.

DEEP staff offered contact names for program managers for further questions. "Her email is in there. She is definitely the person to first contact," Perry said referring to the OSWA program manager.

Ending: DEEP staff said programs will remain competitive and encouraged municipalities and nonprofits to coordinate internally before applying so they do not compete against their own local organizations. They also offered to circulate materials and links to eligibility maps after the meeting.