Reimagine & Revitalize (R2) Program

Reimagine & Revitalize (R2) Program is sponsored by Connecticut Social Equity Council (United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut is Grant Manager for Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford). A statewide community reinvestment initiative designed to expand opportunity and strengthen communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.

Are you sure you want to log out of your account? If you do want to logout, please click "Logout". The Social Equity Council’s Reimagine & Revitalize (R2) Community Reinvestment Program is a three-year, statewide investment strategy designed to ensure that communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis criminalization see real, measurable, and lasting opportunity.

Through approximately $12 million annually , the R2 Program will support community-driven initiatives rooted in: Economic Development (including infrastructure and workforce pathways All funding is directed to organizations serving or located within Connecticut’s Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs).

This model reflects the Council’s commitment to reinvestment that is structured, accountable, and aligned with long-term community transformation. The Reimagine and Revitalize 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity application period closed on July 15, 2026. Grant managers will be reviewing and scoring applications during the next few weeks.

Stay tuned for the full Council vote, which will take place during the month of September 2026!

The Council has approved the following Grant Managers (GMs) to administer the R2 Program across the state: Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Danbury/Norwalk/ Stamford United Way of Coastal and Western CT United Way of Central and Northeastern CT Community Foundation of Greater New Britain New Haven, East Haven, West Haven United Way of Greater New Haven New London, Norwich, Windham United Way of Southeastern CT United Way of Greater Waterbury Each Grant Manager will administer funding within its designated region and work in close collaboration with the Council to ensure consistency, transparency, and strong compliance controls.

Each Grant Manager will be responsible for: Administering a Council-designed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Screening and scoring eligible applications using a standardized Council rubric Recommending awards for Council approval Overseeing approximately 18 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) per region Issuing three-year awards ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 To ensure integrity and public trust: GMs may not apply for funding themselves GMs may not financially benefit from grant awards A 10% administrative cost cap applies Monthly financial and quarterly programmatic reporting is required Annual site visits must be conducted Corrective action plans must be enforced when necessary The Council retains the authority to remove any GM that fails to meet contractual obligations Grant Manager proposals were evaluated using a rigorous scoring rubric focused on demonstrated grant administration experience, staffing capacity, audited financial statements, compliance infrastructure, and fiscal oversight systems.

This structure embeds transparency and consistency into every stage of the reinvestment process. The R2 Program represents a major step forward in building an equitable and accountable reinvestment framework. By partnering with experienced Grant Managers and embedding strong fiscal and programmatic oversight into the process, the Council is ensuring that reinvestment dollars are directed where they can make the most meaningful impact.

This is not simply grantmaking — it is system-building. Through strategic funding, strong partnerships, and measurable outcomes, the Social Equity Council remains focused on transforming communities and expanding pathways to stability, opportunity, and economic mobility across Connecticut’s Disproportionately Impacted Areas.