Long Island Sound Ecosystems Grant Program

The Long Island Sound Ecosystems Grant Program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Long Island Sound Partnership. This program is designed to promote habitat restoration and the implementation of green stormwater infrastructure throughout Connecticut’s coastal and watershed areas. With a total of approximately $7 million in available funding, the program aims to enhance ecological resilience and improve water quality in the Long Island Sound region. The grant targets two categories of projects: habitat restoration and green stormwater infrastructure. Habitat restoration projects may involve tidal marsh restoration, fish passage improvements, or other ecological enhancements. These projects may request funding for planning, engineering, and design (ranging from $100,000 to $500,000) or for construction activities (ranging from $200,000 to $1,500,000). Similarly, green stormwater infrastructure projects can include practices such as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, and bioswales. These may request planning support ($75,000 to $200,000) or construction funding ($200,000 to $900,000). Exceptional proposals may exceed these funding ranges with strong justification. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, academic institutions, federally and state-recognized tribes, councils of governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Projects must be located within the Long Island Sound Coastal Boundary or Watershed in Connecticut. All proposals must align with the goals of the 2025 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, demonstrate landowner support, and build adaptive capacity for communities and ecosystems. Projects exceeding $250,000 must comply with Buy America requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Applications are due by email no later than December 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Applicants are encouraged to use provided templates and include required documents such as site maps, budgets, timelines, and optional letters of support. Q&A sessions will be held virtually on October 16 and November 18, with office hours on December 9. DEEP anticipates notifying awardees in early 2026, followed by a contract execution process. Projects must be completed within two years of contract execution. Funding is distributed on a reimbursable basis, with quarterly reporting and final reporting requirements. Grantees are expected to submit Quality Assurance Project Plans if collecting environmental data, and all work products will be shared with DEEP and EPA. Contact Mindy Gosselin, Ecosystems Grant Program Lead, at [email protected] or (860) 424-3568 for additional assistance.

Projects must align with CCMP goals; site control and stakeholder support strongly encouraged; construction proposals should include maintenance plans; compliance with Buy America and environmental data quality rules applies