December 23, 2011

GOV. MALLOY ANNOUNCES STEAP GRANTS FOR TOWNS IN SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Guilford, Madison, Orange, Wallingford, Woodbridge Receive Capital Improvement Funding

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that the towns of Guilford, Madison, Orange, Wallingford and Woodbridge have each been awarded Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants for capital improvement projects.

"STEAP Grants help towns improve quality of life, spur economic development and stimulate the local economy," Governor Malloy said. "Especially during times when municipal budgets are stretched thin, these grants help make needed projects become a reality."

Earlier this week, Governor Malloy also announced STEAP grants for other South Central region towns, including Clinton, Branford and Deep River .

Guilford: $500,000 for Jacobs Beach enhancements

The Town of Guilford will receive a $500,000 grant to construct improvements at Jacobs Beach, including making the drop-off areas safer for children attending summer camps and for seniors who need assistance entering and exiting the beach. There is also a plan to construct a small boardwalk, create two kiosks, renovate the bathhouse and make improvements to shaded areas

"Jacobs Beach is Guilford's finest park, and this grant will make it even more attractive to residents," State Senator Ed Meyer (D-Guilford), Senate Chairman of the legislature's Environment Committee, said.

"I am so glad to see our state choose to support such an important improvement project happening right here in Guilford. The aesthetic and safety updates to Jacobs Beach will allow our neighbors to better enjoy this local treasure," State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-Madison, Guilford) said. "My work on the Planning and Development Committee has reminded me how especially important it is to invest in existing parks and tourist destinations. I am so glad the state has chosen to do what is best for our budget and the environment."

"This is a significant grant and I'm very happy for the residents of Guilford," State Representative Pat Widlitz (D-Guilford, Branford) said. "Jacobs Beach is one of the town's most utilized recreational resources and this grant will enhance the enjoyment of the beach for people of all ages. My thanks goes to the Governor for his support of this great project for the people of Guilford."

Madison: $400,000 for Boston Post Road improvements

The Town of Madison will receive a $400,000 grant to make improvements to the Boston Post Road, which includes moving overhead utilities underground. The grant will also allow for streetscape renovations, such as median, crosswalk, sidewalk, curbing, drainage, landscape, street lights and foliage. These improvements come as part of phase 3 of the Madison Downtown Center Project.

Senator Meyer remarked, "This grant will improve the beauty of downtown Madison and make it even more attractive for the town's businesses and residents."

"Through my experiences on the Planning and Development Committee, I have seen how small changes to a town's landscape can greatly improve its accessibility to commuters and tourists," Representative Kokoruda said. "It is vital to invest in our towns, especially when we will see an immediate benefit to our economy and job market both on the local and state level. I am so grateful that in these tight economic times, the State of Connecticut has continued to support this important project in downtown Madison."

Orange: $500,000 to complete Edison Road Extension

The Town of Orange will receive a $500,000 grant to aid in the extension of Edison Road to Marsh Hill Road. The project will open the road to a major thoroughfare opposite United Illuminating's new corporate headquarters, will open up over 60 acres for productive economic use, and will enhance the town's ability to attract additional private investments and create new employment opportunities. In addition, the extension will provide traffic relief to local roadways.

"This half-million dollar STEAP grant provides a well-timed financial boost for the Town of Orange and its residents. I'm grateful to Governor Malloy and the Office of Policy and Management for their favorable consideration of our application," State Senator Gayle S. Slossberg (D-Milford) said. "That part of town has become increasingly busy in recent years with considerable retail expansion, as an alternative to the Boston Post Road, and now with the Yale University West Campus on the former Bayer property. The extension of Edison Road will improve circulation throughout the neighborhood to the benefit of residents, commuters, shoppers, and public safety personnel."

"This grant could not have come at a better time and is a perfect fit for Governor Malloy's efforts to attract new businesses and stimulate job growth," State Representative Paul Davis (D-Orange, Milford, West Haven) said. "It is the final funding necessary to complete the project, which will benefit the economic development and productivity of the community by creating a frontage along two major parcels of land and opening up over 60 acres for productive economic use. In addition to the economic value, the construction of the road will provide traffic relief to local and state roadways, as well as direct access to the new PEZ Visitor Center at its U.S. Corporate Headquarters in Orange."

State Representative Themis Klarides (R-Derby, Orange, Woodbridge) said, "Local officials have identified this as a vital growth area, and this grant is an example of the positive role the state can play in economic development."

Wallingford: $214,200 for North Main Street Extension improvements

The Town of Wallingford will receive a $214,200 grant for the milling and resurfacing of North Main Street Extension, a major commercial and industrial area. The road serves as a feeder to the Barnes Industrial Park North complex, the Central Park complex and the Wallingford Plaza center, which hosts multiplex theaters and restaurants. The businesses along this corridor provide goods and services to the entire region.

"North Main Street Extension is crucial to the economic viability of downtown Wallingford. This stretch of road connects downtown to Route 5 and is in great need of improvements," State Senator Len Fasano (R-East Haven, North Haven, Wallingford) said. "When the state invests wisely in maintaining its infrastructure, we all benefit."

"A transportation grid, and in particular, roads, is the spine of any community," State Representative Vincent Candelora (R-East Haven, North Branford, Wallingford) said. "This type of financial investment will go a long way to maintaining the quality of life people enjoy in Wallingford-from getting kids to school on time in the morning to a trip to the grocery store. This is an effort I certainly support."

State Representative Mary Fritz (D-Wallingford) commented, "This is wonderful news. Work on North Main Street Extension will ease congestion and hopefully improve safety in the area."

"I'm pleased this grant money was awarded so Wallingford can continue to make improvements to the infrastructure of such a vital area of town," State Representative Al Adinolfi (R-Cheshire, Hamden, Wallingford) said. "This well-traveled section of roadway already serves the public with access to residential neighborhoods, the community pool and dozens of small businesses. Continued investment in this area will be a benefit to the town's economy and job market."

Woodbridge: $500,000 for Police Department renovation

The Town of Woodbridge will receive a $500,000 grant to renovate the existing Police Department facility, so that improvements can be made to the lobby, the communications and dispatch center, information technology services and processing areas. The funding will enhance public safety, improve police operations, and expand needed services in the community.

"Chief Marcucci, Deputy Chief Stuart, and the rest of the Woodbridge Police Department do a terrific job in all aspects of law enforcement - day after day - on behalf of town residents, but the police station itself is time-worn and in need of expansion to accommodate the needs of a 21st century police force," State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge) said. "This half-million dollar STEAP grant will underwrite a significant portion of planned improvements for the facility to the benefit of Woodbridge taxpayers and the town's modest budget."

"Police departments in many ways are the backbone of our cities and towns. The men and women who work at them protect the very things that make our communities great," Representative Klarides said. "I'm pleased that through this grant, the state will help Woodbridge work toward improving its facility - an effort that will further the already great service provided by its officers."

The State Bond Commission, under Governor Malloy's leadership, allocated $20 million for STEAP grants on September 23, 2011. The awards, which will be awarded to small towns from throughout the state, were granted in part due to project readiness and their impact on overall regional economic development.

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For Immediate Release: December 23, 2011

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