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Bloomfield awarded Sustainable CT bronze certification after town submits 315 points
Summary
Environmental planner Nick Gaboza told the council Bloomfield earned 315 points under Sustainable CT, qualifying the town for bronze certification and opening eligibility for a community match fund (Gaboza estimated about $22,000 had been raised by local projects).
Bloomfield has been awarded Sustainable CT certification at the bronze level after submitting 315 points, town environmental planner Nick Gaboza told the Town Council at its July 13 meeting. The designation recognizes municipal actions across multiple categories including housing, health and natural-resource stewardship.
"A certification lasts about three years," Gaboza said, explaining the program’s tiered thresholds: 200 points for bronze, 500 for silver and 750 for gold. He said Bloomfield’s submission included 13 completed actions, nine of which the program designated as Connecticut success stories.
The recognition can also unlock access to a community match fund, Gaboza said. "To my last count, groups in Bloomfield have been able to use $22,000 that were raised through being part of this program," he told the council, adding that the figure was a rough estimate.
Councilors praised the submission and asked for additional detail about specific actions. "This is a really comprehensive blueprint of what Bloomfield has actually done," Councilor Todd Cooper said, asking the presenter to return to a slide highlighting food-access work and partnerships.
Gaboza summarized action 10.5, which documents the town’s support for the Bloomfield Farmers Market and its acceptance of FMNP vouchers and Connecticut EBT cards. He said evidence of the market’s operations and voucher acceptance contributed points to the submission.
Deputy Mayor Cindy Lloyd and other council members thanked staff and CEEC volunteers for their work and suggested next steps to pursue a higher certification in 2027, including broader community outreach and additional actions that use an equity lens.
The council did not take a formal vote on policy changes tied to the certification at the meeting. Gaboza said he would be available to answer follow-up questions by email and suggested staff would return with additional documentation if councilors wanted more detail on specific actions or the community match fund.
