Matt’s new blog post, a new BIL/IIJA grant application + more news and updates

August 23, 2023 | Issue 8

The CRCOG Connection

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Pic du jour: Rep. Joe Courtney and Norwich municipal leaders celebrate their groundbreaking. CRCOG's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund helped close the last remaining funding gap.

Can you believe August is almost over? This summer may be the hottest on record. We’ve felt and seen the impacts of climate change throughout the country and our region. Matt explores this issue in his latest State of the Region blog post. We want to hear your thoughts, too, so please feel free to leave a comment.

This newsletter is 1524 words and a 7.5-minute read. Happy reading!

We want your feedback! Check out these surveys

CRCOG, in partnership with the Department of Public Health and Bike Walk CT, has released the Connecticut Municipality Active Transportation Survey and the Connecticut Residential Active Transportation Survey. Municipal staff, please help us create a repository of active transportation plans and policies across the state by filling out the Municipal Survey. Municipal Staff and Partners, please share the Residential Survey with your communities to give everyone the opportunity to participate.

Additionally, the residential survey will help us understand what existing bike/pedestrian conditions are like and what areas need support and attention from CRCOG and other partners. The whole survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and there is space to add any information you want to share.

Apply today: U.S. DOT Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program

On August 8, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the availability of approximately $50 million in competitive grant funds for eligible public sector entities to carry out planning and prototyping activities that will Strengthen Mobility and Revolutionize Transportation (SMART).

funding aims to increase the use of innovative solutions to make transportation systems safer and more efficient. The deadline is Tuesday, October 10. Please visit the Program Website or contact Elizabeth Sanderson if you would like to learn more about this funding opportunity.

Highlights from Camp Courant’s Law Enforcement Day

This summer, CRCOG once again assisted in organizing Camp Courant's Law Enforcement Day – a favorite amongst the campers. Camp Courant is the oldest and largest free summer day camp program in the country. They serve 750 campers from the City of Hartford and provide them with an opportunity to build meaningful and positive relationships with fellow campers and staff, learn, and most importantly, have fun.

The tradition of Law Enforcement Day continued on July 13 with participation from almost every police department in the Capitol Region. The campers enjoyed seeing multiple units from Hartford, including the Bomb Squad, Marine Unit and Traffic Team, East Hartford’s Crime Scene vehicle, various regional SWAT teams, K-9 teams galore, drone units, and had rides in Windsor and Farmington’s ATVs.

For the first time, a police helicopter circled above, a real highlight for the kids. They then enjoyed a cookout with Police Chiefs and Command Staff. CRCOG is proud to assist Camp Courant in fulfilling its wonderful mission of providing Hartford children with a meaningful and fun summer experience, and our public safety staff truly enjoys partnership and community engagement.

CRCOGWho? Get to know Tracey Malenfant

Tracey Malenfant is CRCOG’s Financial Officer. She has worked at CRCOG since 2005. In her role she keeps our financial Is dotted and Ts crossed. She’s also the proud mom of Alex and Sophia, both 2023 college graduates. We’re grateful for her expertise.

Q: What does the Principal Finance Office do? What’s unique about your role and the work you do at CRCOG?

A: As a Finance Officer, it is my job to ensure that all financial transactions are conducted and recorded legally and ethically. At CRCOG, our finance department of 3 works as a team to handle all aspects of the accounting process. We don’t just work on one piece of the pie; we bake the whole pie! Each project/grant comes with its own set of requirements, so I am always learning new things, even after 18 yrs.

Q: If you could be fluent in two languages, what would they be and why?

A: Spanish, because my kids were born in Colombia and Italian because my great grandparents were born there.

Q: What is your perfect day?

A: A warm, sunny day on the beach with my family and a good book.

Q: When it comes to your smart phone, are you team Apple, Samsung, or Google?

A: Team Apple!

Meet Chris, our new Transportation Planner

Chris Seeger is a Transportation Planner who recently joined CRCOG. He has a bachelor's in history from Western Connecticut State University and a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Albany. Chris has over 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. He likes to spend his free time reading, running, or following New York Mets baseball.

Q: What’s your favorite quote?

A: “Nobody ever goes there anymore—it’s too crowded.”

Q: What are three attributes that best describe you?

A: Patient, thoughtful, sarcastic.

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: I couldn’t pick just one. They are The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov; The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin; The Weimar Republic by Detlev Peukert; and Plagues and Peoples by William McNeill.

Q: What activity is going to keep you busy outside of work?

A: I enjoy reading, running, or New York Mets baseball.

Professional development: UConn School of Public Policy’s Announces Fall Workshop Schedule

Did you know that as a member organization to CRCOG, employees and municipal members may use the discounted partner rates to attend UConn’s School of Public Policy workshops with public sector and nonprofit professionals? The first two in-person PSELC sessions are:

Friday, September 29, 2023, 9 am-4 pm: Does Your Work Work? The Basics of Planning, Preparing, and Performing Program Evaluation with Anne McIntyre-Lahner, Author of “Stop Spinning Your Wheels: Using Results-Based Accountability to Steer Your Agency to Success”. This workshop will be held at the UConn Hartford Times Building in Hartford, CT.

Friday, October 27, 2023, 9 am-4 pm: Promoting Your Mission: Effective Advocacy & Lobbying for Nonprofits and Government Agencies with Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO, CT Foodshare, Sarah Croucher, Assistant Provost of Academic Affairs, UConn, and Michael Bzdyra, Sr. Lobbyist, FOCUS Government Affairs. This workshop will be held at the UConn Hartford Times Building in Hartford, CT.

Please see our full schedule of offerings and register at Public Service Executive Leadership Collaborative. Classroom space is limited. Lunch will be provided for full-day sessions.

Back to school: School bus safety reminders

It’s back to school time! If you’re a parent with school-aged children or teens, do you feel ready? The National Safety Council has a downloadable checklist with tips that will help keep you informed and them safe throughout the school year.

Talk about school bus safety. Always play it SAFE:

Stay five steps away from the curb.
Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for the student(s) to board.
Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

ICYMI

CRCOG is asking for volunteers to host a community Table Talk. The Table Talk format is intended to bring together friends, colleagues, neighbors, and fellow community members in a comfortable setting to discuss the issues most important to them and their community. CRCOG will provide each Table Talk Host $200 for taking on this community organization task. This $200 is intended to compensate you as the Host for your time in organizing, identifying participants, scheduling, and reporting back to CRCOG on your discussion. Register to be a host today.

CRCOG Poll

Have you taken CRCOG’s 2024 Planning and Conservation Survey?

Yes

Tell me more

No, but I plan to

CRCOG funding opportunities

BIL/IIJA Funding Opportunities (See webpage for more info)

U.S. DOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – Application window opens at 2 pm, August 14, accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and will remain open until September 27, 2023
U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program – Application deadline: September 28, 2023

MetroHartford Brownfields Program

Application deadline: Ongoing