Community Grant Program

Small Education Grant

The Outreach and Education Subcommittee of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Coordinating Committee (ERWSCC) seeks to promote education about and direct community experience with the Eightmile River through a program of small grants. Grants will be awarded to entities which educate or provide outreach to local citizens – especially youth - about watershed resources.

Instructions

Application

Watershed Grant

The purpose of the Watershed Grant is to advance projects that support and enhance the protection and enjoyment of the Eightmile River Watershed’s Outstanding Resource Values (ORVs). In 2008, the Eightmile River was the twelfth river to be designated as a Partnership Wild & Scenic River by the United States Congress. It was designated due to its six Outstanding Resource Values (ORVs).

Instructions

Application

Supplemental Stewardship Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Amounts Available

Who Can Apply

Eligible entities include community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations such as historical societies, garden clubs, art associations, churches, local land trusts, scouts, Audubon, CT, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Districts and municipal boards and departments, including but not limited to conservation commissions, planning boards, water/wastewater departments, libraries, historical commissions, recreation departments, schools (including environmental clubs, art programs, science classes, etc.) .

Other groups that are not qualified non-profit organizations and individuals that are interested in applying should partner with either a town board or department or 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization(s).

Examples

Small Education Grant: Local field trips to learn about natural resources; programs and outreach about water quality, plant life, invasive species, wildlife, geology or watershed ecology; programs using ERWSCC’s Enviroscape (an interactive 3D watershed model); projects that emphasize the history or recreational potential of the Eightmile River Watershed; and outreach that teaches or demonstrates how to be a better watershed citizen.

Watershed Grant: professional workshops, development of municipal regulations, research studies, land acquisition, land survey costs, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, public education and more.

When To Apply

Small Education Grant: There will be a “rolling deadline.” Requests will be acted upon as they are received. Please allow 60 days between the time of the application and the program for which you seek funding.

Watershed Grant: Applications must be submitted six weeks ahead of a regularly scheduled bimonthly meeting (Please check
https://www.eightmileriver.org/meetings/ or call 860.615.6929 for meeting dates).