Trainings & Events

Through the end of this calendar year, join Eversource each first Thursday of the month to learn about their energy efficiency programs and offerings in Connecticut. These lunchtime webinars are an opportunity to learn directly from your desk. 

This month, Eversource will provide an overview of their Multifamily Initiative from Energy Efficiency Consultant, Laura Drake. Laura will provide a program overview and share details on our currently available offerings and incentives for qualifying property owners and managers. For reference, multifamily properties are residential structures containing 5 or more units and include apartments and condominiums.

Why should you attend?

• You want to learn more about Eversource’s Multifamily Initiative in Connecticut.
• You want to learn about energy-saving opportunities available for multifamily property owners, managers, and tenants.

CT DEEP is accepting applications from municipalities, land trusts, and water companies for the next round of the competitive Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) and from targeted and distressed communities* for the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program (UGCG). The application deadline for both programs is October 2, 2023.

Do you have questions about the application process?

Do you have a project in mind and want to learn more?

Please join CLCC and DEEP for an informational session to learn about these grant programs and other state and federal funding opportunities to support your land conservation and community greenspace projects, including the items needed to submit a complete and successful application. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A.
 

The second webinar in the “Spotlight on Solar in Connecticut” webinar series will focus on the role of financing, delving deeper into the structure and benefits of two loan products: the CT Solar Loan and the Smart-E Loan. Using $8 million of repurposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds as credit enhancements, the Green Bank was able to use $25 million in state and federal funds to mobilize $180 million of private capital investment in residential clean energy deployment. In a venture with Sungage Financial, the Green Bank supported a clean energy finance entrepreneur in demonstrating the viability of a specific solar loan product. In collaboration with nine local community banks and credit unions, the Green Bank’s Smart-E loan provides a second loan loss reserve for unsecured financing of clean energy projects, including residential solar.
 

Learn how communities can use the SolarAPP+ automated permitting software for residential solar-plus-storage projects.

The Solar Automated Permitting Platform (SolarAPP+) is now piloting the automated permitting of residential solar-plus-storage systems. See how authorities having jurisdiction can use SolarAPP+ to speed permitting of these projects and further reduce staff time requirements.

SolarAPP+ developers will demonstrate how a solar installer can get a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) and storage system permitted with the SolarAPP+ platform. They will also demonstrate how a building inspector uses the software to check that the installed PV and storage system complies with applicable safety and building codes.

Speakers:

• Joan O’Neil, International Code Council (ICC), Chief Knowledge Officer
• Laura Friedman, ICC, Project Manager, SolarAPP+ Initiative
• Jeff Cook, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Co-Developer of SolarAPP+
• Steven Jones, UL, Senior Regulatory Engineer

SolarAPP+ is an online platform that instantly issues permits for code-compliant residential PV systems. ICC helped to develop SolarAPP+ in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, along with local governments, code development organizations, and industry stakeholders. Learn more at https://solarapp.nrel.gov/.
 

Presenters:

• Rebecca Lilja, USFS GIS Specialist
• Ryan Toot, USFS Watershed Forester

Live on Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87038483896 (registration and password not required)

Who should attend?

• Foresters, watershed councils, land conservancies, conservation groups and anyone else interested in protecting, managing and expanding forests for drinking water.
• Webinar will focus on Michigan’s Forest to Mi Faucet priority areas, but Forests to Faucets is a national spatial analysis tool and database developed by USDA Forest Service.
• All are welcome!
• Michigan SAF has applied for 1.5 category 1 CFEs

What will be covered?

• Overview - Overview of the Forests to Faucets 2.0 Assessment, Data Explorer, and Tools
• Scenarios - Learn how to use the tools to locate watersheds to manage, conserve, and restore.
• Questions - Get your questions answered!

Questions

• Mike Smalligan at [email protected] or 517-449-5666
• Hosted by Michigan Forest Stewardship Program and Michigan Society of American Foresters

Connecticut is the 7th oldest state in the nation, with communities statewide experiencing increases in the percentage of residents age 65 and older, residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and individuals living with one or more disabilities. With Connecticut’s changing demographic comes tremendous opportunity.

Learn more about your community with the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative’s new data resource guide, featuring an interactive data tool to help understand your community, advance healthy aging, and build vibrant, healthy communities for all ages. This municipal guide will be posted to the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative website after this launch event and e-mailed to all registered participants.

This event is the third in our 2023 Age Well Academy series, with special recognition to be awarded to participants who join us for all five events during the year. Municipalities are encouraged to send teams of attendees. This event is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CMMO) credit with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities(CCM). If you are interested in receiving CMMO credit, please be sure to register with your municipal e-mail address.
 

Join CIRCA in June for a two-part webinar series on Municipal Energy Resilience. How can towns take positive steps to increase energy resilience locally? Learn how the Inflation Reduction Act and state programs have incentives for communities to assist in funding renewable energy projects, and what criteria municipalities should consider when developing municipal projects.

Learn about municipal energy vulnerabilities, funding and incentive programs through the Inflation Recovery Act, CT state programs for microgrids and energy efficiency, solar and battery systems, fuel cells and more.
 

Action 3.9 Manage Woodlands and Urban Forests was updated for the 2023 certification cycle. Join Danica Doroski, State Urban Forester from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to learn about urban forest management and resources available to help your municipality complete Action 3.9. Action 3.9 Manage Woodlands and Urban Forests is also included in Sustainable CT's new Climate Leader Designation.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Access to reliable population data is essential for making informed decisions that positively impact our communities. However, knowing which data sources to use and when can be challenging. That's why it's essential to attend this upcoming webinar, where you'll learn about the four key sources of population data: the Decennial Census, the American Community Survey, the Annual Population Estimate Program, and the Connecticut Department of Health annual population estimates. Each of these sources provides unique data that can help you gain a deeper understanding of the demographics and characteristics of a population.

During the webinar, you'll learn how to navigate each source, their differences, and which one to use under different circumstances. By the end of the webinar, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of using these data sources effectively to inform your research, policy decisions, and decision-making processes.

Whether you're a researcher, policymaker, or simply someone interested in making data-driven decisions, this webinar is a valuable opportunity to expand your knowledge and improve your data literacy.
 

Sustainable CT is a statewide municipal certification program that strives to foster inclusive, resilient, and vibrant Connecticut municipalities that provide opportunities for all residents to thrive. The program provides a menu of sustainability actions that build local economies, support equity, and respect the finite capacity of the environment; offers technical assistance and funding to help advance sustainability initiatives; and recognizes and certifies municipalities for their achievements. Nearly 80% of the state’s cities and towns are participating in the program, with sustainability teams pursuing actions at their own pace. Is your town in Sustainable CT? Could your library support your municipality’s sustainability and equity journey? Join staff from Sustainable CT to explore the many ways libraries can play a key role in building community, equity, and sustainability – and to learn more about the resources that are available to your library through Sustainable CT (including funding!).

Registration - Please register using the link above. Zoom call information will be included in your registration confirmation email. Please be sure to open the email and save the call information so you can join us. EACH PERSON FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION WHO WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING MUST REGISTER. This meeting will not be recorded.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact the Roundtable Chairs:

• Jason Villani, New Britain Public Library - [email protected]
• Rachel Tonucci, Bloomfield Public Library - [email protected]

This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI). Attendance at all three sessions is required. Sessions run 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on: June 14, July 12, and August 3. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will participate in three different equity workshops:

Positioning Belonging, Racial Equity, Access, Diversity, & Inclusion (Be READI) as a Municipal Strategic Priority - June 14

Assessing Your City/Town's Culture - July 12

Exposing Common City/Town Barriers to  Belonging, Racial Equity, Access, Diversity, & Inclusion (Be READI) - August 3

Workshop leaders offer a variety of tools and teaching methods including graphic facilitation, visual imagery, theoretical models, small group dialogue and interaction, to create a dynamic space that supports all types of learners.
 

Join CIRCA in June for a two-part webinar series on Municipal Energy Resilience. How can towns take positive steps to increase energy resilience locally? Learn how the Inflation Reduction Act and state programs have incentives for communities to assist in funding renewable energy projects, and what criteria municipalities should consider when developing municipal projects.

Learn about municipal energy vulnerabilities, funding and incentive programs through the Inflation Recovery Act, CT state programs for microgrids and energy efficiency, solar and battery systems, fuel cells and more.
 

Survey data can help you gather important information about your programs, clients, and services. However, there is a science to crafting and designing surveys that gather meaningful insights to improve your work. No matter what kind of survey you create, this class will give you the knowledge and skills to create high-quality surveys that collect valuable data.

By the end of this session, you will learn how to:

• Develop questions that result in meaningful data collection.
• Rewrite survey questions using best practices.
• Create a high-quality survey.

Please contact Jackie at [email protected] with any questions.

Accessibility: CTData is committed to making our workshops as accessible and barrier-free as possible. If you have any accessibility needs or require accommodations to participate, please contact Jackie at [email protected]. Our goal is to make our workshops accessible to everyone, and we welcome feedback on how we can improve.

Ticket Rates:

• Supporter - $45.00
• Standard - $30.00
• Affordable Rate - $15.00

A note about the fee: We offer a sliding scale to make our workshops accessible to everyone. The standard rate reflects the cost of running the workshop, while the affordable rate covers only the materials. For those who are able and willing to contribute more, we offer a supporter rate, which helps us continue our work and mission. We want everyone to have the opportunity to attend our workshops, and we appreciate your support at whatever rate works best for you. If you cannot pay, please contact Jackie ([email protected]) to attend this training free of charge.
 

Please join Sustainable CT and Brian O'Connor, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, for our (virtual) June Coffee Hour. Brian will share results of the 2023 legislative session of the CT General Assembly, focusing on issues that impact municipalities. As always, we'll provide lots of time for your questions and discussion.

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

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) developed the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) to represent a community’s vulnerabilities to two of the most pressing climate change-driven threats in Connecticut – flooding and extreme heat events. The CCVI aggregates three categories (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to calculate relative vulnerabilities across Connecticut. This webinar will focus on the extreme heat CCVI mapping tool and describe potential uses of the tool for local and regional planning,  selection of climate adaptation and resilience projects that address extreme heat, and how zoning regulations provide a change to land use policy for heat adaptation.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

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

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

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

Municipal government, community stakeholders and residents can work together to create more aging, dementia and disability-inclusive communities, resulting in more just, equitable communities for everyone. With resources from AARP’s livable communities initiative, Dementia-Friendly America, Sustainable CT and other collective impact partners, join the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative for the release of its new municipal resource guide on practical action for local and regional aging, dementia and disability inclusivity. The guide will be posted to the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative website after this launch event and e-mailed to all registered participants.

This event is the fourth in our 2023 Age Well Academy series, with special recognition to be awarded to participants who join us for all five events during the year. Municipalities are encouraged to send teams of attendees. This event is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CMMO) credit with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM). If you are interested in receiving CMMO credit, please be sure to register with your municipal e-mail address.
 

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

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

The Connecticut Age Well Collaborative inaugurated its Community Leaders Fellowship, a compensated opportunity to engage individuals with lived experience of aging, dementia, and disability and their care partners, with a focus on lifting up voices of historically disempowered populations. The Connecticut Age Well Collaborative’s new municipal resource guide describes how to build community authority and honor lived experience in the earliest stages of community partnership. Local government is invited to explore this model to embed an authentic lens in community decision-making. The guide will be posted to the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative website after this launch event and e-mailed to all registered participants.

This event is the fifth in our 2023 Age Well Academy series, with special recognition to be awarded to participants who join us for all five events during the year. Municipalities are encouraged to send teams of attendees. This event is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CMMO) credit with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM). If you are interested in receiving CMMO credit, please be sure to register with your municipal e-mail address.
 

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

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

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.
 

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

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

Unlike traditional grant programs, Sustainable CT offers a quick, simple application process (starting with a conversation) with no deadlines, no lengthy review period, and minimal reporting requirements. Sustainable CT helps you create your project description on their crowdfunding platform, provides a crowdfunding coach, spreads the word about your project to bring in support from outside of your networks, and will match up to $7,500 in one-to-one matching dollars from the Social Change Amplifier Match Fund. Please contact [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss your project idea at any time.