One of the aims of the Borderlands Project is to share ideas that relate to the issues facing our communities today. As part of this effort, we offer you the following links to local, state, regional and national resources.
If you would like to suggest a resource to add, please email jparente@tnc.org.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
This site provides information on tourism activities for the Blackstone River Valley communities in RI.
Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber provides resources for businesses in central RI's communities.
Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber works to create and maintain a positive business climate that meets the needs of its membership.
Mystic Country
Mystic Country is a non-profit, publicly- funded organization dedicated to the sustained growth of the tourism industry in eastern CT.
Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber provides resources for businesses in northern RI's communities.
Rhode Island Economic Policy Council
The Policy Council is a public-private partnership that provides guidance on RI’s economic development strategies. The Policy Council has been involved in a variety of initiatives related to land use planning, including work in the Borderlands.
Rhode Island Tourism Division
RI Tourism provides a wealth of information on tourism activities in RI, including trail maps and a trip planner, as well as information on RI's tourism industry.
South County Tourism Council
This site provides a variety of information on tourism activities in South County, RI.
South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce
he Chamber provides resources for businesses in southern RI's communities.
SouthEastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (SECTER)
SECTER is a public-private regional economic development agency serving the towns of New London County Connecticut.
Brown University's Center for Environmental Studies
This program focuses on the integration of teaching, research and service in environmental fields. Several of its students have worked on projects in communities in and surrounding the Borderlands.
Connecticut College Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies
This program offers students opportunities to learn and work on issues related to sustainability and the natural environment. Recent student work includes an examination of bio-invasive species in the Borderlands.
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
The Nature Center is a combination of wildlife sanctuary, visitor center and educational facility. It offers outreach programs that foster a greater understanding of the natural environment, including activities in the Borderlands.
Rhode Island Natural History Survey
The Survey is a clearinghouse of RI’s ecological information, including its Ecological Inventory, Monitoring, and Stewardship Program that works to provide scientific data that can be used to make management decisions about the state’s natural areas.
University of Connecticut's Cooperative Extension
The Extension offers a variety of resources, such as the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) which has initiatives including interactive mapping of land use data and educational resources on many environmental and land use issues.
University of Rhode Island’s Cooperative Extension
URI’s Cooperative Extension program offers a diversity of educational resources and programs for Rhode Islanders, such as watershed training for municipal officials.
University of Rhode Island’s W. Alton Jones Campus
Located in the Borderlands, this URI facility offers an educational center with a host of youth and adult activities, and a conference center available for outside functions.
Avalonia Land Conservancy
This land trust protect lands in the towns of Groton, Griswold, Ledyard, North Stonington, Stonington, Preston, and Voluntown, CT.
Connecticut Audubon Society
CT Aududon protects the natural environment through a variety of education, conservation and advocacy activities. The organization operates 19 sanctuaries statewide, protecting over 2,400 acres of open space, and has 8 educational centers across CT.
Connecticut Environmental Review Team (ERT)
ERT is a team of environmental professionals that provide services to CT communities, such as development review and natural resource inventories. Drawing on the expertise of federal, state and local agencies, these services are provided free of charge.
Rhode Island Audubon Society
RI Audubon works to protect RI’s natural environment through a variety of education, conservation and advocacy activities. The organization maintains over 9,000 acres of open space within its 15 refuges in RI and nearby MA.
Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
The Rivers Alliance is a statewide non-profit organization that works to protect and enhance CT’s watersheds.
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club works to promote the protection of the environment through a variety of educational and advocacy activities. It has active chapters in both RI and CT.
Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
SRICD works to promote a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources for the people of Kent & Washington Counties through the coordination of technical, educational and financial resources.
Thames River Basin Partnership
The Thames River Basin Partnership is a voluntary, cooperative effort to share organizational resources and to develop a regional approach to natural resource protection in the Thames River Basin.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
TNC works to preserve the natural communities across the world and has been instrumental in the protection of over 117 million acres. With chapters in both CT and RI, it has a specific initiative to protect the Pawcatuck Borderlands landscape.
Trust for Public Land (TPL)
With programs in CT and RI, TPL works to preserves lands for human enjoyment and well-being. Working with communities to assist with land identification and acquisition, TPL has protected over 1.9 million acres since its inception.
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA)
WPWA works to promote and protect the lands and waters of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed. It has been instrumental in developing volunteer watershed monitoring, assisting in policy formation, and developing methods for aquatic habitat assessment.
Wyndham Land Trust
Founded in 1975, this non-profit organization preserves lands in northeastern CT. For more info, call 860-963-2090.
Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG)
DOAG is responsible for aiding and promoting a vibrant agricultural sector in CT. Specific activities include its Farmland Preservation Program and Farm Reinvestment (Enhancement) Grant Program.
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
This is the lead state agency working on economic development in CT.
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
DEP coordinates a variety of programs that work to protect the natural environment, including the Division of Forestry (within the Bureau of Natural Resources) and the Division of Land Acquisition and Management (within the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation).
Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
This Office provides information and analysis on state policy and runs a number of programs that work with municipalities.
Connecticut Rural Development Council
The Council is a voluntary partnership organization between CT and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which works to preserve the heritage and unique qualities of rural CT.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
A program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS provides technical and other resources to conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. State offices can be accessed through this federal site.
Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (NCCOG)
NCCOG is responsible for coordinating a variety of activities across its region, including the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development. Contact number: (860) 774-1253.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM)
DEM coordinates a variety of statewide environmental programs, including the work of its Division of Planning and Development, Division of Forest Environment, and the Sustainable Watersheds Office.
Rhode Island Division of Planning
The Division is part of RI's Department of Administration - among its many roles, it oversees the Statewide Plannign Program.
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
This quasi-state agency works on economic development in RI.
Rhode Island Housing
RI Housing is a self sustaining public agency that offers a variety of educational, lending and other programs related to housing for Rhode Islanders.
Rhode Island Rivers Council
Created by state statute, the Rivers Council coordinate efforts to improve the quality of the state's rivers and water bodies and to develop plans to increase river use.
Rhode Island Rural Development Council
The RI Rural Development Council works to preserve and enhance the quality of life in RI’s rural communities. The organization achieves this goal through a variety of research and outreach activities.
Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG)
SCCOG is the southern counterpart to NCCOG, and played an instrumental role in the publication of a 2002 affordable housing study for southeastern CT.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
In addition to its regulatory role, EPA provides a number of resources including publications on smart growth and water resources.
Consensus Building Institute (cbi)
Borderlands Village Innovation Pilot: The Visioning Phase
Essex County Forum
Smart Growth for Livable Communities
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
The Corridor is an affiliated area of the National Park System that works to protect the cultural and natural resources in the Blackstone River Valley.
New England Futures
New England Futures is a marketplace of ideas for the future of New England engaging an open and growing collaboration of citizens, businesses, academia, government, media, foundations and non profits.
Sierra Business Council (SBC)
SBC is a nonprofit association of more than five hundred businesses, agencies, and individuals working to secure the social, environmental and financial health of the Sierra Nevada region (CA) for this and future generations.
The Last Green Valley
The Last Green Valley is the non-profit entity that manages the nationally designated Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, located in northeastern CT and southcentral MA.
Washington County Regional Planning Council
WPRPC brings together municipal leadership from Washington County, RI to address regional issues and implement strategies to tackle shared problems.
1000 Friends of Connecticut
1000 Friends of CT works to promote smart growth throughout the state of Connecticut.
Connecticut Main Street Center
The Main Street Center works to promote vibrant main streets in CT. It is part of the National Main Streets network.
Green Valley Institute (GVI)
GVI provides technical assistance on a number of issues related to land use for communities in The Last Green Valley (northeastern CT and southcentral MA).
Grow Smart RI
Grow Smart RI is a public interest group that works to fight sprawl through the promotion of innovative policies and programs. It provides a variety of resources to communities, such as training workshops for municipal officials.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is an educational institution that works to improve the quality of public debate and decisions on land policy and land-related taxation. A variety of interesting publications and courses can be found on this site.
Orton Family Foundation
The Orton Family Foundation works to transform the land use planning system as a pathway to vibrant and sustainable communities. It provides a variety of education, technical and other resources to communities.
Partnership for Stronger Communities
The Partnership's mission is to raise public awareness and advance solutions to end homelessness, create affordable housing and build healthy and economically vital communities.
Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI)
Housed at the University of Montana, PPRI promotes sustainable communities and landscapes through public processes that are inclusive, informed, and deliberative.
Smart Growth Online
Provides a variety of publications and other resources on smart growth.
Urban Land Institute
ULI's mission is to provide responsible leadership in the use of land to enhance the total environment. ULI provides a number of educational and technical resources.
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