Dear Community,

Thank you for tuning into our July newsletter! There is a lot going on in the environmental justice (EJ) world and we are hoping to bring you the latest events and updates — all in one place. Please submit newsletter feedback and idea topics to DEEP.EJ@ct.gov or the linked form below.  

In this edition, we are excited to highlight a new career opportunity in our Office of Equity and Environmental Justice - Community Engagement and Education Coordinator! 

This position will connect residents in our state’s EJ communities to DEEP’s programs in order to ensure that economically distressed and environmentally impacted communities in rural and urban areas are able to learn about and receive these benefits on equal footing. 

Applications are being accepted through July 10th. Join our team to help us drive meaningful change across Connecticut's EJ communities!

Gratefully yours,

Office of Equity and Environmental Justice

We want to express our deepest gratitude to Commissioner Katie Dykes as she steps down at the beginning of July. She is leaving a lasting legacy of environmental justice that includes establishing the CEEJAC, expanding DEEP's Office of Equity and Environmental Justice, and launching the CT EJScreen tool. As she prepares for her next chapter, we are excited to welcome Deputy Commissioner Emma Cimino, who will the Acting Commissioner to lead the agency forward. We want to extend our immense gratitude to Commissioner Dykes for her leadership over the years, and we wish her the absolute best.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

CEEJAC and the State's Open Space Watershed Review Board are seeking Environmental Justice Community Representatives to join. Both of these councils and boards help shape the state's progress on environmental justice. If you have questions, please reach out to Sarah.Huang@ct.gov or Lindsay.Suhr@ct.gov. To apply, click here. 

Last month, Commissioner Dykes and DEEP staff helped christen a new Research Vessel, the R/V Sound Outlook. The new vessel will be used to monitor and assess the water quality in Long Island Sound. The boat is named for its intended use, to help provide the outlook on the health of our treasured Long Island Sound ecosystem, one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries. For more information, click here. 

DEEP is requesting public comments for Agrivoltaics Incentive Program Feasibility Study by July 8th. An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation requires the DEEP, in consultation with the DOAG, to study the feasibility of implementing an incentive program for agrivoltaics projects in the state. The study must include the benefits and consequences of locating solar photovoltaic energy generating systems on land that is also used for agriculture. For more information, click here.

In a new study, UVM researchers found that patterns of soil lead contamination in two Northeastern cities, Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut closely mirrored neighborhood demographics, with income, housing type, age, and race emerging as key predictors. In Connecticut, historically Black neighborhoods in Hartford that faced discriminatory redlining policies are 20 percent more likely to have high lead soil levels. For more information, click here. 

CEEJAC NEWS

Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC) within DEEP, established by Governor Lamont’s 21-3 Executive Order, advises the Commissioner of DEEP on current and historic environmental injustice, pollution reduction, energy equity, climate change mitigation and resiliency, health disparities, and racial inequity. All are welcome to attend and participate in CEEJAC meetings.

Thank you again for your attendance and participation at the CEEJAC Quarterly Meeting on June 23rd in Waterbury! I wanted to thank our community tour hosts: Kevin Taylor of NEST CT, Kevin Zak of Naugatuck River Revival Group, Rodrigo Pinto of CT DEEP, Jonathan Dean of CT DOT, and Jim Nardozzi and Mansi Doshi of Waterbury Development Corporation. While we didn't have time to debrief the tour as a group, I overheard many conversations and learnings that folks are taking from the tour to their own communities. 

I also wanted to thank Rep Geraldo Reyes, Rep Ron Napoli, Trayvonn Diaz of City of Waterbury, Aisling McGuckin of City of Waterbury Public Health, Cyril May of City of Waterbury Recycling, Zak Robushi of Naugatuck River Revival Group, and Jaimie Cura of Mattatuck Museum who shared more about their work, resources, and opportunities within the community. 

Thank you,
Sarah Huang, Director of the Office of Equity and EJ

For the agenda, notes, and presentation slides, please use the links below:
Download Meeting Agenda
Download Meeting Notes
Download Presentation Slides

DEEP’s Rodrigo Pinto discusses the challenges and opportunities of urban fishing waters during the event's community tour portion.

Photos courtesy of Robbie Goodrich / Radical Advocates for Cross-Cultural Education

Please Join CEEJAC at Our Upcoming Meetings: 

CEEJAC Quarterly Meeting (In-Person)
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Location TBD

CEEJAC Quarterly Meeting (Virtual)
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Register for Meeting Link 

FEATURED EVENTS

Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) | July 8 at 10AM | Virtual
DEEP will hold a public meeting to present the draft recommendations and hear stakeholder comments on the Program Price Cap, bid preferences, and revisions to the Program Manual and Appendix B of the draft recommendations for Year 8 of The Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) program. For more information, click here.

Fish with CARE Events | June - August Options | Statewide
The CARE program offers a variety of “Learn to Fish” classes and events year-round. Fishing events are designed for adults ages 16 and up, as well as families with children 6 years old and above. The CARE program will provide loaner fishing equipment, bait, and expert instruction. A fishing license is required; free licenses for youth 15 and under are available here. For more information, click here.

Project Oceanology Summer Camps | June - August Options | Groton
Project Oceanology’s Summer Camp offers a unique opportunity for youth ages 9–17 to explore, learn, and grow through hands-on marine science. As a Connecticut-licensed, year-round nonprofit education organization, Project Oceanology has been a trusted provider of engaging summer programs since 1972, offering both day and overnight camp options. For more information, click here. 

Other Events 

• 7/15/26: SCRCOG CT Green Bank Workshop: Resiliency (Virtual) For more information, click here.

Tribal News

The National Tribal Air Association is announcing publication of the Status of Tribal Air Report (STAR). The STAR is a publication intended to provide an understanding of the importance and impact of Tribal air programs. Nationally vetted Tribal needs, priorities, and recommendations are all outlined, and the successes and challenges experienced by the environmental professionals are highlighted by way of personal narratives submitted by the Tribes themselves. A budget analysis is included in each edition of the STAR. For more information, click here.

Governor Ned Lamont and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe Chairman Rodney Butler announced in June that they have signed Connecticut’s first tribal-state cannabis compact. The compact recognizes the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe’s regulation of its own cannabis industry on tribal lands and allows for participation in the Connecticut market by selling to and buying from state licensees. For more information, click here.

Tribal Events

Two-Eyed Seeing Look at Land Stewardship | July 18 | 1:00PM | IAIS Museum
Etuaptmumk, or “Two Eyed Seeing,” refers to the braiding together of Western and Indigenous methods. When applied, it has the ability to lead to cross-cultural and transformational changes. Join Joseph Velky III, (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) for a presentation and discussion on real world case studies of Two-Eyed Seeing in the realm of land stewardship and stream ecology. For more information, click here.

Annual Green Corn Festival | August 9 | 12:00PM-4:00PM | Woodbury
Welcome the first corn of the season with a lively lineup including drumming, dancing, children’s activities, flute music by Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe), vendors, stories and more! Also joining is the Native Nations Dance Troupe led by Erin Lamb Meeches (Schaghticoke)! For more information, click here.

Mohegan Wigwam Festival 2026 | August 15th - 16th | Fort Shantok
Everyone is invited to join Native Americans from across the country in a family-friendly day of traditional Native American crafts, foods, and dance competitions. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.

Schemitzun: Feast of Green Corn and Dance | August 28-30 | Mashantucket
Schemitzun features traditional and contemporary tribal dance exhibitions, drum and live music, and plenty of authentic Native American-made crafts to usher in the 2026 harvest season. For more information, click here.

We hope to include more Tribal related news, funding opportunities, and resources to include in the EJ newsletter. Please reach out to Danielle Russell (danielle.russell@ct.gov) with any resources you'd like featured. 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

For funding for environmental justice projects around New England, explore the new EJ Funding and Financing Navigator. 

For DEEP grant programs, explore DEEP's Grants and Financial Assistance page. 

For opportunities available for Tribal communities, explore Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Funding Opportunities.

• 7/14/2026 deadline: Indigenous Tomorrows Fund (ITF) aims to cultivate grant partnerships with Native-led and Native-serving organizations across the U.S. Grant applicants should focus on one of the 5 bundle focus areas of investment: Maintaining the life cycle of balance, intergenerational knowledge and relationships, healing, nurturing that which nourishes us, and building power and abundance. For more information, click here. 
  • Eligible entities: Native-led and Native-serving 501c3 organizations & collectives, Federally and state-recognized Tribal Nations
  • Funding amount: up to $100,000
• 7/16/2026 deadline: Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant. From the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) TEDC grant supports Tribes in building capacity for energy resource development on Indian land, including organizational, business, legal, and regulatory structures. For more information, click here.
  • Eligible entities: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Funding amount: $10,000 - 450,000
  • Contact: JoAnn Metcalfe, Grant Officer, Jo.Metcalfe@bia.gov
• 8/3/2026 deadline: Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program is offering funding to help municipalities restore their urban and community forests. This program support projects that remove dead, declining, or hazardous trees and stumps. It also supports replanting new trees to restore tree canopy, improve species diversity, and enhance long-term urban forest health. For more information, click here. 
  • Eligible entities: Local government entities within Connecticut 
  • Funding amount: $30,000
  • Contact: Erin Alvey, Erin.Alvey@ct.gov
• 8/14/2026 deadline: EPA’s Rural, Small, and Tribal Wastewater Technical Assistance (RST TA) provides grant funding for technical assistance providers that support small, rural, and Tribal communities in addressing wastewater infrastructure challenges. For more information, click here. 
  • Eligible entities: small, rural, and Tribal communities
  • Funding amount: $25.5 million
• 8/31/2026 deadline: Resilient Forestry Practices Grant seeks to support rural municipalities and federally recognized Tribes in implementing resilient forestry practices that will improve forest health and resilience. For more information, click here.
  • Eligible entities: Federally recognized tribes or rural municipalities with a population less than 50,000
  • Funding amount: up to $150,000
  • Contact: Erin Alvey, Erin.Alvey@ct.gov
• 9/1/2026 deadline: World Wildlife Fund launched a grant opportunity to prevent household wasted food. This effort is part of the National Household Wasted Food Prevention Project (NHWFPP) which aims to reduce wasted food by 10% to 20% per capita. For more information, click here.
  • Eligible entities: nonprofits, Tribal and local governments, U.S. territories and states, and higher education institutions
  • Funding amount: $75,000–$750,000
• Rolling deadline: Solar Moonshot Program Grant is helping 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across the United States make the switch to clean energy. Grant priority is given to solar projects that have additional funding sources and community support. For more information, click here.
  • Eligible entities: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Funding amount: up to $25,000
• Rolling deadline: New England Grassroots Environment Fund provides funding for groups launching new projects or starting to significantly change the direction of an existing project.  
  • Eligible entities: Groups doing local, grassroots work in CT, ME, MA, NH, RI or VT. 501c3 status is not required.
  • Funding amount: $500 - $1,000.  
  • Contact: Tess Beem, tess@grassrootsfund.org
  • For more information, click here. 

FEATURED JOBS

• 7/10/26: Community Organizer; Slingshot
• 7/13/26: Data Strategy Advisor; Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• 7/13/26: Environmental Protection Dispatcher; Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• 7/17/26: Division Director; Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Click here to read past DEEP Equity & EJ Newsletters

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. Any person needing a hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event. 

For the best user experience visit the ‘No images? Click here’ hyperlink in the top right corner of this email