News

November brought exciting updates from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), highlighting land conservation programs and funding opportunities. From a new communication platform for land trusts to enhanced hiring and program initiatives, these developments align with CLCC’s advocacy priorities to strengthen nature-based solutions and state land conservation capacity, and leverage federal support for community climate resilience projects. Updates include:

• DEEP Announces New Conservation Partners List for Land Trusts: DEEP is creating a new email list to send direct communications to land trusts and conservation partners. Adding your contact information will allow DEEP to send info on grants, program updates, project accomplishments, and more.
  Sign up here »
• DEEP Land Acquisition and Management Office (LAM) is Hiring: The Environmental Analyst 1 with LAM will provide critical support for handling DEEP property management matters and administrating grants (like OSWA) for enhancing and protecting open space across Connecticut.
  Apply here »
• DEEP Works to Improve the Expanded Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF): This program provides funding to municipalities, NGOs (including land trusts), and other eligible entities to better enable communities to access federal funding for climate resilience.
  Read more here »
  Read CLCC’s comments here »
• DEEP Releases Second Progress Report for 20BY26 Initiative:  This initiative commits DEEP to enhancing the “transparency, efficiency, and predictability” of the agency’s programs and sets 20 goals to achieve by the close of 2026.
  Read more here »
  Read CLCC’s comments here »

We encourage you to sign up for as many opportunities as possible to stay connected with DEEP and provide your important feedback on the policies and programs that impact land conservation in your community and beyond.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to get involved with CLCC’s advocacy efforts, please contact me at abpaterson@ctconservation.org