Greater New Haven and Fairfield Area Launch Sustainable CT

Greater New Haven and Fairfield Area Launch of Sustainable CT:

Convening Stakeholders to Shape Thriving Connecticut Municipalities

Sustainable CT, a new statewide initiative to support Connecticut’s cities and towns, will have its regional launch at two events in the Fairfield and New Haven areas on January 9^th, one at the Comstock Community Center, in collaboration with the Western Council of Governments, at 1:00 p.m., and the other in Bowers Auditorium at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at 6:30 p.m.  Created by towns for towns, the initiative includes a wide-ranging menu of sustainability best practices, tools and resources, peer learning, and recognition.

“Sustainable CT provides support to help all of our communities achieve the shared values of improved well-being, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship,” said Christina Smith, executive director of Groundwork Bridgeport and officer of Sustainable CT’s pending board of directors. 

Many area municipal leaders, experts, and community members have worked together for the past 18 months to develop Sustainable CT, including Brad Gentry, Co-Director of the Center for Business and Environment at Yale and member of Sustainable CT’s pending board of directors; Carl Amento, Executive Director of the South Central Regional Council of Governments, who served on Sustainable CT’s Advisory Committee; Thomas Madden, Director of Economic Development of the City of Stamford and Co-Chair of the Local Economies Working Group; Steve Nocera, Director of Project Excellence of the City of Danbury and Co-Chair of the Public Services of Working Group; and Patrick Carleton, Deputy Director of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments and Co-Chair of the Local Economies Working Group.

The Sustainable CT platform supports a broad range of actions, such as improving watershed management, supporting arts and creative culture, reducing energy use and increasing renewable energy, implementing “complete streets” (streets that meet the needs of walkers and bikers as well as cars), improving recycling programs, assessing climate vulnerability, supporting local businesses, and providing efficient and diverse housing options.  There is no cost to participate, and communities will voluntarily select actions that meet their unique, local character and long-term vision.  After successful implementation of a variety of actions, municipalities will be eligible for Sustainable CT certification. 

“We are excited to register and become a Sustainable CT certified community,” said Ben Blake, Mayor of the City of Milford and member of Sustainable CT’s pending board of directors. “The program provides an engaging opportunity to be recognized for our sustainability successes and be part of a broader learning laboratory that drives innovation,” concluded Blake.

The initiative was developed under the leadership of the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University in partnership with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.  Three Connecticut philanthropies – the New Haven-based Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Hampshire Foundation, and the Common Sense Fund – have supported the program's development and launch.

The Fairfield and New Haven area regional launch events are for anyone interested in learning more about Sustainable CT and how to get involved in supporting the implementation of Sustainable CT actions.  Event attendees will include municipal elected officials and staff, residents, nonprofits, businesses, college, and universities.

Regional launch events will be held throughout the state in January.  For more information and to register for any regional launch event, visit www.sustainablect.org.