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Connecticut expands competitive rounds for open-space, community-garden and trails grants; DEEP warns of appraisal lead times
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Summary
State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officials briefed RiverCOG on three state-funded grant programs — OSWA, Urban Green Community Garden and the Connecticut Recreational Trails program — outlining deadlines, match rules and application hurdles including limited numbers of certified appraisers.
Steven Perry, an environmental analyst with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, told RiverCOG the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) program will accept applications due Nov. 3 and requires two appraisals, including a yellow-book‑compliant appraisal and a confirmatory appraisal. He said OSWA generally covers up to 65% of fair market value and up to 75% in distressed or environmental‑justice census tracts, and that in‑tract projects may request reimbursement for carrying and closing costs.
"Because this is due Nov. 3 and right now there's a shortage of certified appraisers in Connecticut, we're seeing lead times of, you know, 90 to 120 days," Perry said, warning many applicants without appraisals already underway will be unlikely to meet the deadline. He said OSWA has protected roughly $200 million and about 50,000 acres in Connecticut over the program's lifetime.
Kim Bradley, Connecticut Trails and Greenways coordinator at DEEP, outlined the state Recreational Trails Program, a state‑funded counterpart to the federal program that supports planning, construction, maintenance, access improvements and purchase or lease of trail equipment. Bradley said this round is expected to open imminently with an anticipated due date in mid‑December and that awards are reimbursements; she recommended applicants keep requests below about $500,000 given competition and noted a required 20% match for project budgets.
Bradley also highlighted a flexible Urban Green Community Garden (UGCG) grant for projects in environmental‑justice or distressed communities, with a Dec. 17 deadline and award sizes ranging from modest community‑garden grants to six‑figure multiuse trail work. DEEP said in‑kind volunteer time, municipal labor and prior qualifying investments on a site can count toward match requirements.
DEEP staff said applicants should review DEEP's story maps and attend a planned October webinar and office hours, and they will circulate corrections and updated materials via RiverCOG.
