EmPOWER Main Street Grant Fund – Connecticut Main Street Center

In partnership with United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas & Southern Connecticut Gas, subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc.

Program Overview

Connecticut Main Street Center’s new EmPOWER Main Street Fund, launched in July 2025 with a $25,000 grant from United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc, provides grant support for main street projects that will spur economic development, small business occupancy, and community pride.

Meet Our 2026 EmPOWER Grant Recipients

About the Program

Grant Eligibility

Municipalities, main street nonprofits, and Commissions that meet the following eligibility requirements are invited to apply:

You are a CMSC member in good standing and you have completed a CMSC Main Street Management Assessment within the past year.
Your downtown district is in UI, SCG, or CNG territory.
If a UI, SCG, or CNG customer, you must be in good standing.

Grant funds must be used for projects that contribute to main street vibrancy, including but not limited to: lighting, banners, signage/wayfinding, façade improvement, beautification and public art projects, and commercial space build-outs/improvements.

Grant Awards range from $2,500 – $10,000. Applications are due by November 14, 2025 11:59pm EST.

Click here to preview the application questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

How do I find out if my town is eligible?

Eligible towns that are in the UI, SCG, or CNG territories include:

Ansonia
Avon
Berlin
Bloomfield
Bolton
Branford
Bridgeport
Canton
Clinton
Coventry
Deep River
Derby
East Hampton
East Hartford
East Haven
Easton
Essex
Fairfield
Farmington
Glastonbury
Granby
Greenwich
Guilford
Hamden
Hartford
Hebron
Madison
Manchester
Mansfield
Milford
New Britain
New Haven
Newington
North Branford
North Haven
Old Saybrook
Orange
Portland
Rocky Hill
Shelton
Simsbury
Stratford
Trumbull
Unionville
West Hartford
West Haven
Westbrook
Weston
Westport
Wethersfield
Windsor
Woodbridge

For questions on the status of your CT Main Street Center membership, please contact Carl Rosa, Field Services Director, at carl@ctmainstreet.org.

I represent an organization in the eligible town, but my organization isn’t focused on our downtown. Can I still apply?

No, you can not apply. However, we encourage you to collaborate with the CT Main Street member in your community to submit an application. If you don’t know who represents main street in your community, please contact Carl Rosa, Field Services Director, at carl@ctmainstreet.org.

If I am not a CMSC member, can I join before the grant period closes?

Yes, you can view membership information here. Please reach out to Carl Rosa, Field Services Director, as soon as possible. In addition to CMSC membership, you must also have CMSC Main Street Management Assessment completed by October 15, 2025. In the email to Carl, be sure to mention your intention of applying to the grant. Carl can be contacted at carl@ctmainstreet.org.

If I haven’t had my Annual Main Street Management Assessment in the last 12 months, can I schedule one before the grant period closes?

Yes, please reach out to Carl Rosa, Field Services Director, as soon as possible. In the email, be sure to mention your intention of applying to the grant. You must have the assessment completed by October 15, 2025. Carl can be contacted at carl@ctmainstreet.org.

Timeline

When is the application due?

Applications are due by November 14, 2025 11:59pm EST.

When will I be notified?

All applicants will be notified on the decision of their grant application mid-December 2025.

When will funds be disbursed?

Funds will be disbursed no later than February 2026.

How long do I have to complete my project?

The project must be completed by December 2026. The final grant report will be due December 31, 2026 11:59pm EST.

Application

What questions are on the application?

You can preview the application questions in this PDF document.

Note: You will need to submit an online application by clicking the “Apply” button above.

Are there any projects you WON’T fund?

Generally, the EmPOWER Fund will not support projects that do not align with the recommendations in the CMSC Main Street Management Assessment report. Additionally, the fund will not support individual businesses, one-off events without a sustainable positive impact on Main Street, rent, utilities, overhead costs, or past due bills.

My project costs exceed the grant maximum. Can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. However, you must demonstrate how you will obtain the additional funds needed to fully finance your project. If these funds are not secured by the application deadline but your application is accepted, CMSC will grant you extra time to secure the necessary funding. If you are unable to secure the additional funds within this period, the grant award will be rescinded.

Can I reapply if I don’t get a grant this year?

Future EmPOWER Fund rounds are not finalized yet. However, if there are additional EmPOWER funding rounds, you will be able to reapply regardless of if you are or are not successful this grant funding round. However, priority will be given to new applicants or applicants returning after 2 years to reapply.

Reporting

What are the reporting requirements?

If successful, you will receive the grant reporting requirements in detail. A final grant report will be due December 31, 2026 11:59pm EST.

Questions?

For questions about the EmPOWER Main Street Fund, please contact Carl Rosa, Field Services Director, at carl@ctmainstreet.org.