Submitted by Amber Schilberg
(October 1, 2025) — Energize Connecticut Sponsors Eversource and Avangrid Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas have announced that 17 entities, including nonprofits, municipalities and chambers of commerce, have been selected to participate in the third round of funding available through the Community Partnership Initiative (Partnership).
The awarded participants will receive grants, ranging from $15,000 to $80,000, to implement community outreach plans to promote energy assessments, weatherization and other energy-saving upgrades benefiting small businesses and residential homeowners and renters in cities and towns across the state, including over 20 environmental justice communities.
“The Energize Connecticut Community Partnership Initiative is a powerful way to connect with customers in historically underserved communities,” said Eversource Director of Energy Efficiency Stephen Bruno. “This Initiative has proven how localized outreach drives greater participation in energy efficiency programs, helping residents and business owners to reduce their energy usage year-round.”
“We are eager to work with the selected participants to increase access to energy efficiency in our communities, and the participants of this year’s Community Partnership Initiative represent a range of organizations who can help make that happen,” said Senior Manager of Conservation and Load Management at United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas Marissa Westbrook. “We have no doubt that each participant will go above and beyond with their energy efficiency program outreach and will see first-hand the many benefits of these important upgrades within their communities.”
Established in 2021, the Community Partnership Initiative provides grants to environmental justice communities and their community outreach groups, such as Energy Task Forces, non-profit organizations and other community-based groups to raise awareness and better familiarize residents and businesses with energy efficiency solutions offered by the Energize Connecticut Sponsors. To date, 25 funding awards have been made to organizations to promote energy efficiency program participation across Connecticut.
Round 3 selection was based on the participants’ proposals to connect with their local communities to gain interest and increase participation in energy efficiency programs available in Connecticut.
Below are the Community Partnership Initiative Round 3 grantees and the communities that their efforts and campaigns will primarily impact:
· Connecticut Community Non-Profit Alliance
o Primary communities served: Statewide
· Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association
o Primary communities served: Hartford
· Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce
o Primary communities served: Bristol, Plainville, Wolcott, Plymouth, Thomaston
· City of New Haven
o Primary community served: New Haven
· Connecticut River Valley Chamber
o Primary community served: East Hartford
· Generation Power Connecticut (formerly Operation Fuel)
o Primary community served: East Hartford
· Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc. amd Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs
o Primary community served: Bridgeport
· Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
o Primary communities served: East Haven, New Haven, West Haven
· Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce
o Primary community served: Hamden
· Live Green Connecticut
o Primary communities served: Bridgeport, Stratford, Torrington, Winchester
· Jonah Center for Earth and Art in Partnership with City of Middletown
o Primary community served: Middletown
· Midstate Chamber of Commerce
o Primary community served: Meriden
· Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG)
o Primary communities served: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middletown, Portland
· The Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Windham Region
o Primary communities served: Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Lebanon, Mansfield, Tolland, Willington, Killingly, Windham
· Town of Manchester and Town of Manchester Sustainability Commission
o Primary community served: Manchester
· Town of Windsor
o Primary community served: Windsor
· Waterbury Coalition: Clean Water Action, Nest Inc., Riba Aspira
o Primary community served: Waterbury
For more information on the Community Partnership Initiative, please visit EnergizeCT.com/your-town/community-partnership.
