Lamont Boosts CT Climate Fund to $44M for Coastal Defenses

Governor Ned Lamont announced the expansion of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF), making up to $44 million available in state and federal dollars for planning, project advancement and construction to bolster communities against extreme weather.[3] Building on the fund's 2023 inaugural round, which awarded $8.8 million to 21 projects across 17 municipalities including shoreline areas, the new opportunity targets vulnerabilities like those in Old Saybrook and Stonington where rising sea levels threaten seawalls and infrastructure.[1][2] The DCRF, established in 2021 via Executive Order 21-3, aims to position local governments, nonprofits and others to secure federal construction funds.[2] Coastal Connecticut faces acute risks, with shoreline communities battered by storms and tidal surges. Recent "1,000-year" floods in the Naugatuck Valley caused $300 million in damage, underscoring the urgency as Gov. Lamont noted, "I don’t think we’re winning, I think we’re losing."[7] The expanded fund supports Track 2 project development grants, typically $300,000 to $700,000, for communities ready to scope resilience measures like flood barriers.[6] In his 2025 legislative package announced January 21, Lamont proposed integrating climate risks into municipal planning for land use, hazard mitigation and evacuation to unlock state and federal aid.[4] Initiatives include clarifying use of municipal reserve funds and town aid roads for resiliency, plus new Resiliency Improvement Districts for community-scale fixes.[4] Applications remain open to municipalities and eligible entities, prioritizing adaptation in flood-prone areas.[3]