Clean Air Funding, Locally Grown Food, and more

April 17, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday!

In this week's eblast, you can read about clean air funding, expanding access to locally grown food, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 
Expanding Access to Locally Grown Food 

A total of $1.55 million in state grants is being awarded to 12 organizations (including food pantries, community health centers, and nonprofits) to support the purchase of healthy, Connecticut Grown products from local farms for distribution to food-insecure residents.

One organization in Norwich will be receiving a portion of this grant money:

  • St. Vincent de Paul Place Norwich, Inc. (Norwich) – $100,000: St. Vincent de Paul Place will provide Connecticut-grown food through its pantry and meal programs to thousands of individuals and families across southeastern Connecticut, including seniors, children, and households facing economic hardship.

These grants are being distributed through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant Program, which is designed to expand access to fresh, locally grown food while also strengthening Connecticut’s agricultural sector. By connecting local producers with community-based organizations, the program helps ensure that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.

Now funded by the state, the program builds on a previously federally supported initiative and serves as a critical bridge in the wake of recent federal funding cuts, ensuring continued support for both vulnerable communities and Connecticut farmers.
 
Clean Air Funding

The state is making $15 million available through the national settlement of the Volkswagen emissions scandal to support clean air projects across Connecticut. Eligible projects must reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, key contributors to smog, and help advance the state’s efforts to combat air pollution.
Older diesel engines are a major source of nitrogen oxide, which is linked to asthma, lung damage, and other serious health conditions, with children particularly at risk. Funding will prioritize projects that replace, repower, or retrofit aging diesel-powered vehicles and non-road equipment, significantly reducing harmful emissions.
Organizations interested in applying for grants can learn more through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP will also host an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. to review the application process and provide guidance. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 11. Click here to register for the webinar.

Click here for more information on the VW settlement.
 
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month 

This is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the broader community to come together to speak openly about sexual violence by supporting survivors, raising awareness, deepening understanding, and identifying effective strategies and resources to prevent it.

If you need support, The Connecticut Alliance to end Sexual Violence offers a 24-hour toll-free hotline, call 1-888-999-5545 (English) or
1-888-568-8332 (Spanish).
 

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Larry.Pemberton@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

All my best,

Larry Pemberton
State Representative
 
 

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Larry.Pemberton@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

All my best,

Larry Pemberton
State Representative

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