Accelerating Access to DEEP Funding
DEEP is accelerating access to its funding through 20BY26 Goals 11 and 15.
In Goal 11, DEEP is speeding up key grant and contracting processes that it controls. DEEP administers roughly 35 individual grant programs from 14 different federal agencies totaling $370 million and counting. These funds support agency operations and pass-through contracts to nonprofits, municipalities, and other grantees. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of Spring 2025)
As of Q2 2025, the time to execute a contract slightly increased from 103 days in 2024 to an average of 124 days in 2025. Overall, an average of 124 days represents a 63% improvement on processing time during 2021/2022, when the baseline average was 335 days. DEEP is still meeting its 50% reduction goal. Also, this quarter, federal agencies added a processing step that is leading to processing delays with federal grants. CVA contracts, for example, are currently shown in the “contracts pending execution” category below because of these delays.
DEEP executed 231 contracts from 2021 to the end of Q2 2025 and has 81 current pending contracts for grants awarded in 2024 and 2025. This chart highlights the number of fully executed contracts versus the number of contracts still pending execution across five major grant programs: state-funded Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Recreational Trails (Rec Trails), and federally-funded Clean Vessel Act (CVA), Urban Forestry (UCF), and Watersheds (WS).
DEEP developed a search tool for applicants to easily find grant opportunities on DEEP's Grants & Financial Assistance webpage along with an introductory video guide to using the grants and loans tool. In addition, we launched a Grants 101 webpage and an interactive infographic highlighting the various steps of DEEP’s contracting process.
Up Next
DEEP will be participating with OPM and other agencies in the pilot of a new statewide Grant Management System using the Euna/Amplifund platform. This system will allow DEEP to receive solicitations, provide assistance using grant management tools, and facilitate reporting.
GOAL 11 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Winter 2025
In Q1 2025, the time to execute a contract fell to an average of 103 days in 2024, representing a 69% improvement (reduction) on processing time since the 2021/2022 baseline average of 335 days.
DEEP executed 221 contracts from 2021 to the end of Q1 2025, with 49 of those just in this quarter, and has 92 current pending contracts for grants awarded in 2024 and 2025 across the five major grant programs – Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), Clean Vessel Act (CVA), Recreational Trails (Rec Trails), Urban Forestry (UCF), and Watersheds (WS).
The scatter chart below shows reductions in days to execute a contract across the five programs over the last three years, as of Q1 2025. Implementation of a Microsoft Planner Board with associated flow charts and SOPs and the development of contract templates for some programs are the most transformational changes responsible for reducing the time from award letter to contract execution.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT
Fall 2024
DEEP established a tracking baseline that starts with the grant award letter and ends with a fully executed, signed contract to measure and assess success metrics for this goal. During Q4 2024, DEEP collected baseline data for four of its main grant programs on contracting timeframes, focusing on the last two complete grant contracting years (2022 and 2023) to compare with the current year (2024). DEEP’s agency-wide planner board went online earlier this year, and some of the most recent results might be incomplete until 2025. During the 2022 – 2024 period, there were 172 executed contracts as well as 85 contracts still pending execution. The average number of days to execute these grant contracts fell over the years. The Aquatic Invasive Species program executed about 12 contracts per year, ranging from 268 days to issue in 2022, down to 84 days in 2024. About 30 contracts per year were executed under the Clean Vessels Act and completed in 200 days in 2022, down to 153 days in 2023. The RecTrails program executed about 38 contracts per year, ranging from about 498 days to issue in 2022, down to 204 days in 2023. Urban Community Forest grants executed about 21 contracts in 2022 and were completed in 149 days, down to 108 days across 10 contracts in 2024. Watershed grants executed 7 contracts in 2022, taking 602 days to complete, down to 158 days across 3 contracts in 2024.
Summer 2024
DEEP welcomed a durational Federal Grants Policy Advisor in the Commissioner’s Office and two Grants & Contract Specialists in DEEP's Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy (BETP). DEEP researched various contract management systems, and BETP field-tested a new "application to fulfillment" grant management tool through Amplifund with the acceptance of applications for broadband access. In August, DEEP conducted outreach with the Opportunities for Funding Connecticut Communities webinar.
Winter and Spring 2024
DEEP deployed an agency-wide contracting planner board, developed legal contract templates for individual grant programs, and conducted training to map the contracting process for staff internally as well as speed contract drafting.
In Goal 15, DEEP is focused on leveraging vital federal and state incentives and funding to expand clean energy, energy efficiency, broadband, and reduction of greenhouse gases, among other environmental priorities, and sharing this information broadly with residents and businesses. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of Spring 2025)
In Q2 2025, DEEP launched the revised Grants and Financial Assistance dashboard. On the front end, this new dashboard allows grantseekers to efficiently search for applicable grants, loans, and other funding opportunities. On the back end, the funding opportunity form directly connects with the dashboard, allowing for on-the-fly tweaks, changes, and updates with automated review and approval processes incorporated. This enables program coordinators to quickly update information, such as extended deadlines and application amendments.
DEEP also launched the Grants 101 page as an additional resource for all grantseekers. The webpage provides a quick view of available funding opportunities, an overview of DEEP’s contracting process, and support for navigating the funding process.
On April 24, 2025, DEEP issued an RFP to contract with a vendor (Solicitation # DEEP042125SW, which closed on July 11) to develop the Energy, Sustainability & Broadband Navigator Tool. This tool will more easily connect residents with the available state, local, and federal energy, sustainability, and broadband incentives and funding opportunities.
DEEP also worked with Emerald Cities to host three stakeholder roundtables on multi-family energy programs and barriers to their use. These roundtables were held on June 16th, 24th, and 30th. The information gathered during these roundtables will make DEEP’s energy offerings more accessible to communities, including affordable multifamily buildings, in the long-term (see Goal 19 Community Hubs).
Up Next
DEEP is also in the process of reviewing proposals for the Energy, Sustainability & Broadband Navigator Tool. We expect to publicly announce the selected vendor and estimated development timeline before year end.
GOAL 15 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Winter 2025
DEEP finalized the design of the Grants and Financial Assurance Dashboard and created an instructional video. This updated site enables applicants to search for available funding across various parameters including eligibility, funding program, and type of project.
Fall 2024
DEEP prepared the draft Request for Proposals for our Energy, Sustainability, & Broadband Navigator Tool. In addition, DEEP used Power BI to create a tool for applicants to search grant opportunities on our Grants & Financial Assistance webpage (see coordination with Goal 11), and updated the information on our BIL / IRA webpage to show where DEEP is now with respect to the funding awarded - DEEP was granted over $500 million, with approximately half of the awards for clean, efficient, and reliable energy.
Summer 2024
DEEP added new graphics to the BIL/IRA dashboard to show DEEP's involvement in large multi-state grant coalitions.
Winter and Spring 2024
DEEP launched its BIL/IRA online transparency dashboard for over $370 million in BIL and IRA funds.
Content last updated September 2025