Community Resource Hubs
Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is excited to launch a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking proposals from qualified organizations to serve as Community Resource Hubs in environmental justice communities throughout Connecticut. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on March 12, 2025.
**Note also that we have an earlier February 5 deadline for potential respondents to state their interest in applying and connecting with possible partners.
Following Are Key Dates:
| RFQ Published | 1/15/2025 |
| Letter of Interest and Clearinghouse Sign Up Deadline | 2/5/2025; 5:00 PM ET |
|
Informational Session + Meet and Greet (Virtual Meeting) |
2/13/2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET |
| RFQ Written Questions Due | 2/19/2025; 5:00 PM ET |
| RFQ Response to Written Questions Posted | 2/26/2025; 5:00 PM ET Download Response to Questions |
| RFQ Application Deadline | 3/12/2025; 5:00 PM ET |
Clearinghouse information is now available!
Please refer to the below dashboard for organization contact information.
More about the Hubs initiative:
Through this RFQ, DEEP is seeking to establish, within available funds, Community Resource Hubs in environmental justice (EJ) communities within the state. This RFQ follows a draft RFQ released on October 21, 2024 for public comment. After learning from our community partners, DEEP incorporated feedback and released the final RFQ on January 15, 2025.
What are EJ communities? EJ communities are defined in Connecticut as either (1) a U.S. census block group with 30% or low income individuals with an income below 200% of the federal poverty level; or (2) a distressed municipality, as defined in our partner agency’s list of distressed municipalities. These EJ communities can range from urban neighborhoods to economically distressed rural communities. DEEP’s EJ website provides more information about these communities, including a searchable map.
Why DEEP Community Resource Hubs? Because of constraints on time or money, many residents face challenges in accessing the variety of programs that DEEP offers – such as making utility bills more affordable, improving access to the outdoors, or improving the quality of the air, water and land around them. DEEP’s Community Resource Hubs will connect residents in our state’s EJ communities to ensure that our economically distressed communities in both rural and urban areas are able to learn about and receive these benefits on equal footing. Many DEEP programs already are mandated or encouraged to ensure that a certain percentage of funding or resources be distributed to these EJ communities. Community Resource Hubs will help put state resources into a community, with the assistance and leadership of community organizations and community members. Additionally, these Hubs will be able to provide DEEP fresh insights into how our programs make better reach residents.
The selected Community Resource Hub(s) will directly, or through subcontracts, provide services, including but not limited to:
- Facilitating community input on DEEP policy and program design
- Increasing effective community access to state and federal resources and funding
- Facilitating education programs and informational awareness to initiatives aligned with DEEP's mission
- Facilitating community access to and participation in DEEP events and opportunities
- Facilitating community participation in workforce development and business creation opportunities associated with DEEP programs
Hubs will also be equipped to provide essential resources, including equipment and technical assistance, to ensure residents have the tools they need to participate fully in beneficial environmental and energy initiatives.
Technical Assistance
DEEP will be providing technical assistance in the form of “matching” interested applicants. All interested applicants are encouraged to submit a Letter of Interest indicating the name of your organization and contact information. This allows DEEP to see how many interested applicants there are. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to sign up for an online Clearinghouse. This clearinghouse will allow applicants to see other interested applicants and what services they provide to discuss potential synergies. Both forms should be completed by February 5, 2025.
DEEP will be hosting an Informational Meeting and Meet and Greet on February 13, 2025 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at 79 Elm St Hartford, CT and Zoom. DEEP will walk through the application, and answer applicant questions. Afterwards, DEEP will facilitate partner meet-ups and discussion of opportunities to partner on an application or synergies.
Submitting an Application
All applicants should review the Request for Qualifications to ensure that you have completed all required components. This checklist provided below does not supersede what is stated in the RFQ.
To submit your application, please:
- Register at: https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/CTSource/Registration
- Submit required Campaign Contribution Certification (OPM Ethics Form 1): https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/Fin-PSA/Forms/Ethics-Forms
- Submit in a single PDF document the following:
- Cover Sheet
- Responses to RFQ Application Questions
- Letters of Support
- Sample Budget
- Conflict of Interest – Disclosure Statement
- Statement of Assurances
- Respondent Certification
- Put “DEEP Community Resource Hubs” in the subject line
- Email your application to Katrina.Vallett@ct.gov by 5:00 pm on March 12, 2025.
Questions about this initiative? Please reach out to Katrina.Vallett@ct.gov.
Content last updated January 15, 2025.