With this grant, the state of connecticut will treat acres to mitigate invasive species, insect infestation and disease, and other active forest management activities that support NYE-holman state…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded $315,775 to Connecticut's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection on June 23, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to treat acres at Nye-Holman State Forest, mitigate invasive species and insect infestation, and support active forest management.

The award funds forest treatment activities prioritized in areas where timber harvests are occurring to promote native tree regeneration and healthy forests. A portion supports a full-time outreach forester position to increase education and outreach efforts to the general public, nontraditional partners, woodland owners, and urban community leaders. Additional funding supports maintaining or improving annual wildland fire training for Connecticut wildland fire fighters, including fire department personnel. The award also funds a contractor to conduct public outreach and input collection to assess changes needed regarding Connecticut's forest resource issues, goals, and strategies and to evaluate whether the state forest action plan is meeting its intended goals.

Performance occurs in Connecticut. The award runs through June 22, 2031.

With this grant, the state of connecticut will treat acres to mitigate invasive species, insect infestation and disease, and other active forest management activities that support NYE-holman state forest. Treatment areas will be prioritized where timber harvests are occurring to promote native tree regeneration and healthy forests. A portion of this grant will fund an outreach forester position. This position will increase education and outreach efforts to the general public and nontraditional partners as well as woodland owners and urban community leaders. An additional portion of funds will focus on maintaining or improving annual wildland fire training for connecticut wildland fire fighters including fire department personnel. A portion of the funds will hire a contractor to assist with public outreach and input collection to quantify has changed or what needs to change regarding connecticut s forest resource issues, goals, and strategies and to ensure the state forest action plan is meeting intended goals.