News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Middletown, CT (August 30, 2023) – The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) announced the results of the first two rounds of their Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) program. This funding source is aimed at helping land trusts increase the pace of land conservation across the state by providing grants to support transaction-related project costs. $178,200 in grants were awarded to 29 land trusts to help conserve ~1,800 acres.
Beyond the purchase price of a property, land trusts must fundraise to pay for other transaction expenses such as appraisals, surveys, and environmental assessments, which can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.
“Even in the case of donated properties there are significant expenses required to complete the transaction,” says Phil Philbrick, president of the Canton Land Conservation Trust. “This [TAG] program has helped us ensure that we can focus on conserving the property in perpetuity.”
Grants were awarded to projects ranging from 1.2 acres in Hartford to help protect a community greenspace to 237 acres of woodlands and wetlands in Warren.
“With support from CLCC’s transaction grants, we were able to bring two projects across the finish line and conserve important habitat along critical wildlife corridors in Connecticut,” says Shelley Harms, executive director of the Salisbury Association Land Trust. “This grant program provides land trusts with another much-needed source of funding, helping to increase the number of acres we can conserve each year.”
To gauge interest in the program, CLCC used a request for proposals to determine the dollar demand for transaction expenses. CLCC received over $1.15 million in requests from 41 land trusts for current and prospective projects. With a new round of funding beginning in November, CLCC is looking towards the future to sustain and expand the program in terms of award sizes and number of eligible transaction expenses.
Connecticut land trusts are essential partners in local and statewide efforts to conserve open space. We extend our sincere gratitude to them for all they do throughout the state. CLCC is delighted to offer the TAG program as part of a growing suite of financial assistance.
TAG Land Trust Awardees
| Killingworth Land Conservation Trust | Salisbury Association |
| Morris Land Trust | Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy |
| Connecticut Farmland Trust | Canton Land Conservation Trust |
| Winchester Land Trust | Bethany Land Trust |
| Steep Rock Association | Wyndham Land Trust |
| Trust for Public Land | Hamden Land Conservation Trust |
| Avalonia Land Conservancy | Middlesex Land Trust |
| Aspetuck Land Trust | New Hartford Land Trust |
| Land Conservancy of Ridgefield | Norwalk Land Trust |
| Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust | Cornwall Conservation Trust |
| Warren Land Trust | Norfolk Land Trust |
| North Branford Land Conservation Trust | Pond Mountain Trust |
| East Haddam Land Trust, Inc. | Cheshire Land Trust |
| Woodbridge Land Trust | Litchfield Land Trust |
| Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy |
About the Connecticut Land Conservation Council
CLCC is the only statewide service provider and voice for all Connecticut land trusts. CLCC is a leader in advocacy and policy, education and training, and technical assistance to empower Connecticut’s ~125 land trusts and ensure the long-term viability of land conservation efforts in the state.
Since its formation in 2006, CLCC has grown into one of the most effective land trust service associations in the country, offering a wide range of programming and services – from traditional capacity building, training and education, to new and creative opportunities for land trusts to better connect to one another and their communities for greater conservation, economic, and social impact.
CLCC’s mission is to elevate and strengthen land conservation in Connecticut. We envision a future where every Connecticut community is supported and sustained by a diverse mix of conserved land, and land conservation is embraced as an essential community value.
Learn more at www.ctconservation.org
CLCC Press Kit: https://ctconservation.org/pressroom/
