Trainings & Events

Pop in to have yours questions answered by the UConn TAB team regarding your FY26 EPA Grant Application.
 

In May, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) launched a web-based tool to assist with the potential siting of solar projects and further the goal of increasing our state’s supply of zero-carbon energy. The Community Renewable Energy Siting Tool (CREST) provides free access to 35 layers of state, federal, and institutional data – demographic, forestry, geology, land use, water, wildlife, and more – that can be used by municipal planners, solar developers, conservation organizations, members of the public, and others to visualize where renewable energy best fits into Connecticut’s diverse landscape. Learn more about CREST and how to use it from the creators of the tool at DEEP. Contact us with any questions about the CREST at [email protected].

Stuart DeLand is an Environmental Analyst in the Engineering, Safety, and Sustainability Division based in the Bureau of Central Services at the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP). Stuart manages the spatial infrastructure of the agency, from local databases to its cloud-based presence online and assists in GIS systems development in coordination with all divisions. Prior to joining DEEP's staff in September of 2018, Stuart worked as a Tree Surveyor for Buchanan Consulting Services, LLC in the Invasive Species Eradication Program around Worcester, Massachusetts.

Camille Fontanella serves as the Director of the Office of Innovative Partnerships and Planning and as the Concierge Team Lead in the Commissioner’s Office at DEEP. Roles of this office include permit assistance, assistance for municipalities, and stakeholder outreach, such as the Sustainable, Transparent, and Efficient Practices for solar development. She is a geologist who has worked at DEEP for over 20 years, in addition to 7 years in environmental consulting. She brings her strong scientific background to coordinating and building environmental programs, problem solving, and bringing people together to protect human health and the environment.
 

Join the Partnership for Strong Communities (The Partnership) for a deep dive into their inaugural annual report.

The Partnership will release its inaugural State of Housing in Connecticut report on January 16, 2026, offering a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities shaping affordability, creation, choice, and stability across the state.

This iForum will introduce key findings from the report and open space for collective analysis. Following a brief overview, attendees will participate in a facilitated data walk led by the report authors and partner organizations. Together, participants will examine trends, surface insights, and discuss implications for local and statewide policy. The session aims to equip stakeholders with clear, actionable knowledge and renewed energy to advance housing solutions in 2026 and beyond.

Light breakfast will be served.
 

The 2026 Sustainable CT Virtual Equity Training Series is a free, practical, action-focused learning experience designed to help municipal leaders move from equity concepts to confident application in real time. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Participants will work with scenario-based coaching and peer learning, using real challenges from their communities such as budgeting tradeoffs, policy revisions, resident engagement tension, and team dynamics. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Session One runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on January 14. Sessions Two and Three run from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, on January 28 and February 11. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

January 14 - Equity in Action – From Principles to Practice: Clarify shared commitments and apply an equity lens to current municipal practices to identify practical opportunities for change.

January 28 - Building Trust and Cross-Town Coalitions: Go deeper on trust-building, communication, and collaboration across departments and communities. Includes guided small-group breakouts to problem-solve shared challenges and navigate politically sensitive moments.

February 11 - Measuring What Matters and Sustaining Momentum: Define meaningful equity measures, track progress, and build strategies to sustain the work through leadership transitions, shifting priorities, and budget cycles.
 

The US National Geodetic Survey (NGS) will re-design the national State Plane Coordinate System with the release of our new national reference frame, the North American Terrestrial Reference Frame 2022 (NATRF 2022). In this webinar Dr. Thomas Meyer will show the differences of the new system and the one we use today, SPCS83, show some example coordinates in the new system, and offer some thoughts about what to expect from the changes.
 

In this year's WestportREADS selection, All the Water In the World by Eiren Caffall, much of Manhattan is under water due to melting glaciers. Before real life follows fiction, there are ways we can reduce the chances of warming trends. Expanding on this concept is Executive Director of CIRCA (the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation) James O'Donnell, who will be at the library to share facts about the effects of climate change on the water levels of the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound.
 

The CT Cultural District Program is a critical component in the State’s efforts to advance the Creative Economy. Join Kimberley Parsons-Whitaker from DECD’s CT Office of the Arts in this webinar which explores how aligning Cultural Districts with community goals can foster thriving, resilient places. Participants will learn how arts, culture, and creative economies strengthen social cohesion, support local identity, and contribute to economic and environmental resilience in Connecticut communities.

Cultural District Overview: Cultural Districts Overview

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

The 2026 Sustainable CT Virtual Equity Training Series is a free, practical, action-focused learning experience designed to help municipal leaders move from equity concepts to confident application in real time. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Participants will work with scenario-based coaching and peer learning, using real challenges from their communities such as budgeting tradeoffs, policy revisions, resident engagement tension, and team dynamics. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Session One runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on March 11. Sessions Two and Three run from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, on March 25 and April 8. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

March 11 - Equity in Action – From Principles to Practice: Clarify shared commitments and apply an equity lens to current municipal practices to identify practical opportunities for change.

March 25 - Building Trust and Cross-Town Coalitions: Go deeper on trust-building, communication, and collaboration across departments and communities. Includes guided small-group breakouts to problem-solve shared challenges and navigate politically sensitive moments.

April 8 - Measuring What Matters and Sustaining Momentum: Define meaningful equity measures, track progress, and build strategies to sustain the work through leadership transitions, shifting priorities, and budget cycles.
 

This informative day will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking, a catered lunch, and exhibitors. Attendees will benefit from a variety of themed breakout sessions, providing education on composting related to the basics, home, farm, municipal, schools, and medium to large scale operations. The event will highlight how composting can benefit local communities, businesses, the environment, and improve climate resiliency.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

The 2026 Sustainable CT Virtual Equity Training Series is a free, practical, action-focused learning experience designed to help municipal leaders move from equity concepts to confident application in real time. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Participants will work with scenario-based coaching and peer learning, using real challenges from their communities such as budgeting tradeoffs, policy revisions, resident engagement tension, and team dynamics. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Session One runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on May 6. Sessions Two and Three run from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, on May 20 and June 3. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

May 6 - Equity in Action – From Principles to Practice: Clarify shared commitments and apply an equity lens to current municipal practices to identify practical opportunities for change.

May 20 - Building Trust and Cross-Town Coalitions: Go deeper on trust-building, communication, and collaboration across departments and communities. Includes guided small-group breakouts to problem-solve shared challenges and navigate politically sensitive moments.

June 3 - Measuring What Matters and Sustaining Momentum: Define meaningful equity measures, track progress, and build strategies to sustain the work through leadership transitions, shifting priorities, and budget cycles.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.