Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments We serve 19 cities and towns in the Naugatuck Valley. Welcome to the official page of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments!

Through collaboration with municipalities, we address shared challenges such as transportation improvements, environmental issues, and community planning to strengthen the region. At the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), we are responsible for regional planning across 19 towns in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, collaborating with local leaders to maximize resources and address

common challenges. Our dedicated team of professionals works diligently on transportation efforts, environmental projects, brownfields redevelopment, and community planning to create thriving communities that are safe and healthy. This page serves as a space to keep the public informed about our efforts, events, initiatives, and decisions that
impact our region. Our goal is to foster transparency, encourage civic engagement, and provide important
updates on regional policies and services. NVCOG reserves the right to delete submissions that do not meet the purpose of this page as set out above. The following are examples of unacceptable social networking content and comments. Please note this list is not intended to be all-inclusive:

1. Profane or obscene language or content as determined by the profanity filters offered through each social media platform (such posts result in the comment/content being blocked through the social media’s profanity filter).

2. Any form of hate speech, personal attacks or content that promotes, fosters, or perpetrates discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, or any other protected class of people.

3. Advocation of illegal activity; or those that compromise safety or security of the public.

4. Infringement on copyrights or trademarks.

5. Confidential or non-public information, including but not limited to any personally identifiable medical information and any content that violates the legal rights of the owner of said content.

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) recently attended the 60th Annual Meeting of the National Association of...
06/12/2026

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) recently attended the 60th Annual Meeting of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conference convened regional planners, executive directors, municipal officials, and other stakeholders a part of the national membership to evaluate and share unified strategies for widespread community planning and economic development.

NVCOG Executive Director Rick Dunne participated as a member NARC Executive Directors Council as an Executive Committee member. This leadership role contributes to our regions direct representation in federal policy and advocacy development.

The NVCOG team led an informational session titled "Revitalization by Design: Regional Brownfields Programs for Municipalities."

• Presenters: Executive Director Rick Dunne, Brownfields Program Director Ricardo Rodriguez, and Brownfields Planner II Inez Ortiz.
• Panelists: Michelle Barnett (Partner Tulsa) and Michael Dunn (Region 1 Planning Council).

The presentation explored the NVCOG Brownfields Program model and demonstrated how diverse programmatic frameworks can be adapted across state lines to advance brownfield remediation and redevelopment.

Please join the Connecticut Water Planning Council for a webinar focusing on water quantity. The webinar will take place...
06/11/2026

Please join the Connecticut Water Planning Council for a webinar focusing on water quantity. The webinar will take place virtually on Friday, June 12, 2026 from 12 PM - 1 PM. To register, scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/WPCeducation.

June is Rivers Month, and fifty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, Connecticut is still dealing with the legacy of many dams installed during the Industrial Revolution. This webinar explores the impact of these dams on water resources and features a case study of the work of the Naugatuck Valley COG, in partnership with Save the Sounds, on the Kinneytown Dam Removal.

Celebrate CT Trails Day this weekend by joining one of over 200 free guided events across Connecticut! NVCOG communities...
06/05/2026

Celebrate CT Trails Day this weekend by joining one of over 200 free guided events across Connecticut! NVCOG communities are getting in on the action with fantastic local walks and hikes hosted in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Prospect, Southbury, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

Find full event details, locations, and registration for these towns: https://trailsday.org/

Here is a quick look at some of the awesome events planned in our region:
- Ansonia: Raptor Woods Hike at the Ansonia Nature Center
- Beacon Falls: Bird’s Eye View of Beacon Falls
- Bethlehem: Caroline Ferriday Preserve Trail Walk
- Bristol: Trails to the Past, Present, and Future
- Cheshire: Hike to Roaring Brook Falls
- Derby: Raise Your Heart Rate and Spirits
- Middlebury: Annual Foote Path Hike
- Prospect: Journey Through the Kathan Woods
- Southbury: Bird Hike at Bent of the River Audubon Center
- Wolcott: Kids “First Hike” Nature Walk
- Woodbury: Leavenworth Preserve Hike

Connecticut Forest & Park Association

🚦 Do the roads in your town flood? Tell us about it! Share your experience and be a part of the solution: https://tinyur...
06/05/2026

🚦 Do the roads in your town flood? Tell us about it! Share your experience and be a part of the solution: https://tinyurl.com/InlandCT.

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), Capitol Region Council of Governments - CRCOG, Northeastern Connecticut COG (NECCOG), and Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) have partnered together to develop a Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP) for Inland Connecticut. The goal of this effort is to help our region’s transportation system better withstand extreme weather events, particularly flooding.

We want to hear from you to understand how and where flooding affects local roads and bridges in your jurisdiction. The information you share will guide future investments in the transportation system.

Our public survey is now live! Whether you’re a resident navigating daily commutes or municipal staff planning for the future of your community, your input matters.

🌦️Your feedback will directly inform Inland Connecticut’s Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan. By helping us identify where our local transportation network is most vulnerable, you will contribute to making our roads safer, stronger, and more resilient to flooding.

NVCOG's Deputy Director Richard Donovan joined local and regional leaders for a meaningful conversation about improving ...
05/29/2026

NVCOG's Deputy Director Richard Donovan joined local and regional leaders for a meaningful conversation about improving public transportation in Waterbury. The event was hosted by Waterbury Bridge To Success - BTS Community Partnership Transforming Community Initiative in partnership with Trinity Health of New England. Building on three years of transit evaluation work, including resident surveys and a documentary, the conversation created space for an honest discussion about mobility inequities, service frequency, network connectivity, and infrastructure needs. Panelists included representatives from the Greater Waterbury Transit District, neighborhood associations, NVCOG, city staff, and city and state elected officials.

Yesterday, NVCOG Environmental Planners Tom, Molly, and Christine explored the Mad River Watershed as part of developing...
05/21/2026

Yesterday, NVCOG Environmental Planners Tom, Molly, and Christine explored the Mad River Watershed as part of developing a Watershed Based Plan. 💧🔍

The Mad River is a valuable natural resource in the upper Naugatuck Valley. It supports local wildlife, scenic landscapes, and recreational areas such as Scoville Reservoir and Hitchcock Lake.

The team spent the day out in Bristol, Wolcott, and Waterbury shadowing consultants from Resilient Land and Water. Together, they hit five different stops to sample the water for bacteria and nutrients.

Once the plan is ready, it will give us clear steps to track down pollution and improve water quality across the watershed.

Learn more about the plan here: http://nvcogct.gov/madriver.

🚲 May is National Bike Month and the NVCOG Region just saw two Babson College students bike through on the Derby Greenwa...
05/20/2026

🚲 May is National Bike Month and the NVCOG Region just saw two Babson College students bike through on the Derby Greenway segment of the Naugatuck River Greenway. 🌳

Gustavo (left) and Mario (right) took part in a four-day bike ride from Boston to New York City, and on day three this past Monday cycled from Manchester to Shelton by way of the Derby Greenway. Congratulations to them on completing their 250-mile journey!

We're offering backyard composters and rain barrels at reduced prices for residents. These tools are a great way to turn...
05/18/2026

We're offering backyard composters and rain barrels at reduced prices for residents. These tools are a great way to turn food scraps into garden soil and collect free rainwater for your lawn. 🌱

Place your order online by Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Items will be available for in-person pickup only on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the Seymour Community Center from 9 AM to 11 AM, or at Thomaston High School from 1 PM to 3 PM.

To see the items available and place your order, please visit: https://connecticut.compostersale.com/nvcog2/.

“Right tree. Right place. Right time.” 🌳 Last week, we put this philosophy into action during an Urban & Community Fores...
05/14/2026

“Right tree. Right place. Right time.” 🌳

Last week, we put this philosophy into action during an Urban & Community Forestry Peer Learning Exchange in Waterbury with The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut.

More than just a meeting, this was a strategy session focused on the future of the Naugatuck Valley’s tree canopy. The highlight was a live planting led by Joshua De-Anda, who guided stakeholders through the installation of a native Black Gum tree.

Despite the rain, the group learned how to dig a properly-sized hole, arrange the roots for maximum water and nutrient uptake, and avoid common tree-planting pitfalls like "mulch volcanoes." Trees like this one provide shade and habitat for humans and wildlife in urban environments.

Huge thanks to our local and state partners for joining us:
✅ City of Waterbury-Mayor's Office, NEST, LEAD, North End Cooperative Market, & Bridge to Success
✅ Town of Bethlehem, Town of Cheshire, City of Derby, Town of Middlebury, Town of Seymour, Town of Southbury, & Town of Woodbury
✅ Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust, Ansonia Nature Center, Prospect Land Trust, Regional Water Authority, & Friends of Riverside Cemetery
✅ CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Transportation, University of Connecticut, National Audubon Society, Save the Sound, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, & Sustainable CT
✅ The City of Torrington & Western Connecticut Council of Governments

Together, we’re turning individual programs into a regional movement.

Learn more about the regional tree canopy assessment: https://nvcogct.gov/project/treecanopyassessment/.

Address

49 Leavenworth Street
Waterbury, CT
06702

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12037570535

Website

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