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January 2025

The Resilience Roundup highlights announcements and events along with links to the previous month's state, regional, and national resilience news. 

Learn more about CIRCA at circa.uconn.edu

and the Resilient Connecticut Project at resilientconnecticut.uconn.edu

CIRCA Updates

Paid Internship at CIRCA for Current UConn Students!


CIRCA, located at the UConn's Avery Point campus in Groton, CT, is looking for a paid intern to work with the Institute’s staff. Open to students from ALL UConn campuses.  Please share widely!  MORE INFO & HOW TO APPLY HERE

CIRCA’s Work in Climate Resilience Featured in

UConn Research Magazine


The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) was highlighted in UConn's 2024 Research Magazine for its leadership in addressing climate challenges like sea level rise, heat stress, and flooding. Established in 2014, CIRCA helps communities across Connecticut strengthen resilience through programs such as the Resilient Connecticut Initiative and the Climate Change Vulnerability Index, which provide tools to assess risks and guide local planning efforts. By partnering with UConn and state agencies, CIRCA has supported infrastructure protection and sustainable development across the state. Director James O’Donnell stresses, "This is not coastal resilience alone. Now we call it community resilience." Click HERE to access the full article on page 36 & 37.

Announcements

NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship Program


Application Deadline: February 28, 2025



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to announce the Coastal Resilience Fellowship, which will place 33 fellows with Climate Resilience Regional Challenge projects and will be funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. This fellowship is a two-year opportunity (June 2025 to June 2027), offering a competitive salary of $42,000 to $56,000, depending on the cost of living in the fellowship location, plus medical benefits and travel and relocation expense reimbursement. 

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Grants

Apply to Become a Community Science Partner with CCHM


Communities across the United States impacted by extreme heat are invited to apply to partner with the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring (CCHM). This partnership offers a unique opportunity to engage in a co-developed community science project, receive training, and access a $10,000 stipend for up to 10 communities each year.


Applications are due by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, January 17, 2025. Accepted communities will be notified by early spring 2025. Before applying, review the partnership expectations for organizations and lead organizers to ensure alignment with program goals.


The application process may take up to two hours. To prevent data loss, applicants are encouraged to draft responses in a Word document before submitting. Applications can be completed in the language most comfortable to each applicant.

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U.S. Department of Transportation: RAISE Grant Program


Applications Due: January 30, 2025


The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program provides grants for impactful surface transportation infrastructure projects. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities. RAISE supports multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects often challenging to fund through other programs.

Previously known as BUILD and TIGER, RAISE grants cover capital projects such as highways, bridges, public transit, rail, ports, airport surface transportation, and stormwater infrastructure improving aquatic habitats. Planning projects, including environmental analysis, equity assessments, and feasibility studies, are also eligible.

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The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund 2025 Request for Proposals Now Open


Proposals Due: Thursday, January 30, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET


This program provides funding to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for projects that focus on capacity building, fostering new collaborations, and piloting tools and strategies that enhance environmental and natural resource impact.

Grant awards range from $15,000 to $200,000, and projects must be located within the Long Island Sound watershed in Connecticut and New York, as shown on the LISS National Estuary Boundary Map.

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CT DEEP: Urban Forest and Riparian Restoration Grants


Applications due: January 31, 2025



DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is offering grants of $2,500–$20,000 for the Urban Forested Natural Area and Riparian Corridor Restoration Program. Local governments and 501(c)3 non-profits are eligible, with no financial match required.The program funds projects to improve forest health and resilience in urban areas and riparian corridors. Eligible activities include invasive plant removal, vine control, tree planting, and other interventions to promote native tree regeneration.


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Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program

Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI)


The Long Island Sound (LIS) Resilience Planning Support Program, funded by the U.S. EPA, is now accepting Expressions of Interest until 11:59 PM on February 7, 2025. This program provides assistance to communities in New York and Connecticut within the LIS Coastal Boundary to develop sustainability and resilience-focused projects. The program aims to help communities assess climate risks, conceptualize project ideas, and conduct preliminary planning, enabling them to secure funding for project design and implementation. Eligible applicants include municipalities, nonprofits, NGOs, academic institutions, tribes, and community organizations located within or partially within the LIS Coastal Boundary.


Support through this program may include climate risk assessments, project scoping, and planning, with awards ranging from $35,000 to $115,000 for up to two years. A funding match is not required. Applications can be submitted through an online form, email, or mail, with detailed instructions and a FAQ document available online. The feedback and award announcements expected by Summer 2025.For more information, including application details and resources, visit the LIS Resilience Resource Hub.

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 CT DEEP is Accepting Proposals for Grant Under Section 319

of the Federal Clean Water Act


 The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for fiscal year 2025 Clean Water Section 319 grants. Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act (Section 319) is a Federal program to control nonpoint sources (NPS) of water pollution. Connecticut receives funds from EPA for Section 319 grants that can be passed onto communities, local conservation groups, and other organizations for NPS implementation projects, plans, and statewide NPS management efforts. Proposals may be submitted by any interested public or private organization and must be received by February 13, 2025.


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NOAA Opens $100 Million Grant for Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience


Applications Deadline: April 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET


NOAA is now accepting applications for the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This program provides $100 million to support projects that restore marine, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems while improving community resilience to climate hazards like storms, flooding, and erosion. Of the total funding, $15 million is reserved for Tribal organizations. Awards will range from $750,000 to $10 million. Eligible projects should align with resilience or watershed plans, rebuild sustainable fisheries, restore habitats for endangered species, and engage tribal, indigenous, and underserved communities as active stewards of natural resources. The program also prioritizes initiatives that foster economic vitality, provide co-benefits like public access and revitalization, and ensure benefits flow to disadvantaged communities, in line with the Justice40 Initiative.

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Events

Accessing Technical Assistance for Grant Submission Webinar


Thursday January 16th, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.


Hosted by the New England Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, this webinar is specifically designed to help community organizations and environmental justice leaders navigate pro-bono technical assistance to secure grant funding. To familiarize communities with the array of resources, this webinar will walk through support systems and processes for organizations provided by our Technical Assistance Team. Key topics include:


  • How the Technical Assistance Center can support you before, during, and after the grant submission process
  • How to submit a technical assistance request
  • How to access one-on-one support
  • Where to access guides and templates for grant proposals
  • Upcoming webinars and office hours for continued support
REGISTER HERE

How to Submit a Grant Proposal Webinar


Wednesday January 29th, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.


Hosted by the New England Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, this webinar is designed to equip community organizations and environmental justice leaders with practical guidance on how to successfully identify and submit proposals for environmental justice projects. To address the unique needs and challenges faced by underserved and/or low-capacity communities, this webinar will walk participants through the submission process, ensuring that proposals stand out and meet funding agencies’ requirements. Key topics include:


  • Overview of the grant proposal process
  • Steps and timeline for grant writing: Best practices for writing and submitting proposals
  • Tips for preparing supporting documents, such as budgets and letters of support
  • Avoiding common mistakes before, during, and after the submission process
  • Tips for navigating barriers and increasing competitiveness
REGISTER HERE

State and Regional News Clips

Severe Weather Arriving in Connecticut Sooner, Rather Than Later

CT By The Numbers - December 4, 2024


Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently noted that the pattern of increasingly severe precipitation, especially in the Northeast, is forecasted to continue as global average temperatures rise. For every degree of warming in Fahrenheit, the atmosphere can hold about 3%-4% more moisture, the agency explained. Global temperatures in 2023 were more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit above the pre-industrial average, and with particular heat records being set in Connecticut, it’s no surprise that precipitation records were also set as the atmosphere’s moisture capacity increased.

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Climate Change Effects in Connecticut Prompt Closer Look at Resiliency Policy

The Hour - December 21, 2024


At a time when billion-dollar weather events around the state and country are steadily increasing, a new panel of experts in climate policy, finance, consumer advocacy, construction and insurance has started its work in creating statewide policies for resiliency. James O'Donnell, executive director and professor of Marine Sciences at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation at the University of Connecticut, stressed the need to better prepare as weather events increase in severity.

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National News Clips

Study Unveils the Human and Scientific Dimensions of

IPCC Sea Level Rise Projections

PHYS ORG - December 9, 2024


The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a body of the United Nations, has long been at the forefront of climate science, regularly producing state-of-the-science assessments and possible solution pathways for policymakers.

In a first-of-its-kind ethnographic study, researchers from Indiana University Bloomington and Princeton University provide insights into the human and scientific dynamics that shape global climate assessments and sea level rise projections in the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).

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Climate Change Impacts Grip Globe in 2024

World Meteorological Organization - December 30, 2024


The year 2024 is set to be the warmest on record, capping a decade of unprecedented heat fuelled by human activities, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Greenhouse gas levels continue to grow to record observed highs, locking in even more heat for the future.

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The Resilience Roundup highlights CIRCA's presence in the news, provides links to recent local/state/national news articles related to resilience and adaptation, and announces upcoming events and seminars.
 
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation's (CIRCA) mission is to increase the resilience and sustainability of vulnerable communities along Connecticut's coast and inland waterways to the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the natural, built, and human environment. The institute is located at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus and includes faculty from across the university. CIRCA is a partnership between UConn and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). 
circa.uconn.edu
Resilient Connecticut
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