Connecticut

Connecticut maintains a diverse and well-funded grant ecosystem that serves municipalities, nonprofits, small businesses, and community organizations across the state. Key agencies administering grant programs include the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA), and the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). The state's funding priorities reflect Connecticut's unique position as a small but economically diverse state, with particular emphasis on revitalizing urban centers, supporting small businesses and nonprofits, preserving historic communities, and strengthening infrastructure in smaller towns that lack the tax base of larger cities.

For small businesses and nonprofits, the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund provides loans between $5,000 and $500,000 supported by the Department of Economic and Community Development, funding equipment, payroll, utilities, renovations, and other operational expenses. The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), managed by OPM, provides grants-in-aid to towns with populations under 30,000 that do not qualify for Urban Action bonds, funding capital projects for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life improvements. A recent STEAP cycle released $24.5 million to 60 small towns for road safety, sewer upgrades, sidewalk improvements, and recreational facilities. Connecticut also administers the federal Community Development Block Grant program through its Small Cities Program, providing funding and technical support for community and economic development projects in towns and cities with populations under 50,000.

Nonprofits in Connecticut benefit from dedicated funding through CHEFA's Nonprofit Grant Program, which awards between $5,000 and $75,000 annually through a competitive cycle that opens each November with a Request for Proposals. The AmeriCorps Connecticut Formula funding, announced by Governor Lamont for the 2026-2027 program year, supports single-state AmeriCorps program grants and planning grants for organizations building community service capacity. Arts and cultural organizations receive support through the Connecticut Office of the Arts, while environmental nonprofits can access targeted grants such as the Lower Connecticut River Valley Environmental Grant Program, which distributes funds for preservation, conservation, restoration, and education projects. Together, these programs provide Connecticut organizations with a robust and accessible set of funding pathways tailored to the state's community development priorities.