Press Releases
09/25/2016
Gov. Malloy Announces State Grants to Assist Sixteen Small Towns with Capital Improvement Projects
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that sixteen towns throughout Connecticut will receive funding under the latest round of the state's Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which assists smaller communities with infrastructure and capital improvement projects. The nearly $6 million in grants announced today are the second round of grants announced this year. An earlier round of STEAP 2016 grants was announced in February.
"By partnering with our smaller communities, our state can assist towns with infrastructure projects that will help them grow, remain competitive, attract businesses, and bring added value to residents for years to come," Governor Malloy said. "These STEAP grants allow us to get funding directly to municipalities to complete projects that make Connecticut a better place to work and live."
"It is so important for state and local governments to work together to improve our neighborhoods, economic centers, and quality of life for residents," Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. "These grants will help towns make public safety and infrastructure improvements, bolster downtown districts, and tackle projects they may not otherwise be able to do. These projects have valuable long-term impact on our communities and for our residents."
Since 2011, small towns across Connecticut have received approximately $230 million in funds under the program.
The STEAP grants announced today are:
- Beacon Falls - $500,000 for the reconstruction of West Road. The Town of Beacon Falls is experiencing several maintenance and safety problems at the lower section of West Road. Several of the drainage structures and piping runs are undersized and/or previously installed at substandard slopes. The project will eliminate several hazardous conditions including road repair of deteriorated pavement, flooding onto private properties, icing on the roadway and provide access to the existing force main for proper maintenance.
- Berlin - $500,000 for the revitalization of the Downtown Village Streetscape. The streetscape improvement project in the Main Street area of Kensington is the second phase of a project now in construction. The construction of streetscape improvements in this area will be an important element in the continuing effort to create a community center in the Berlin Train Station area. This project complements the institution of commuter rail service in 2018, embraces the importance of walkability, and the creation of a more active business center. This grant follows several other Transit-Oriented Development grants awarded by the Office of Policy and Management for the same area of Berlin.
- Branford - $500,000 to replace the existing volunteer Company 9 facility located at 6-10 Linden Avenue. The construction of the new fire house is critical for improved emergency response to Company 9's response area which encompasses more than a third of the town's land mass and population.
- Brooklyn - $238,500 for the installation of generators at Brooklyn Elementary School and Clifford B. Green Memorial Center. This project will insure the safety and security of the students, faculty, and staff in the event of a natural disaster and allow for the facilities to be utilized as a community shelter in case of emergency. It will also support the community warming and cooling center in the event of extreme weather.
- Cornwall - $120,000 for the third cycle of Cornwall's highly successful Façade Improvement Program. The project will improve the exteriors of commercial farm buildings, which have been recognized as an important resource by the State Historic Commission. The awarded funding will allow approximately twenty local businesses to upgrade their exteriors and improve the look of the Cornwall village center.
- Essex - $491,887 for Centerbrook Village Main Street enhancements. The project will focus on sidewalk improvement and replacement on the south side of Main Street, where there are currently continuous sidewalks in various stages of deterioration. This project will benefit the local community by enhancing the multi-modal, complete-streets setting that the town seeks to establish while having a positive impact on the economic, commercial and social environment of the historic village.
- Fairfield - $300,000 for drainage and pedestrian improvements in and around Sherman Green in downtown Fairfield to mitigate flooding risks, improve pedestrian safety and enhance visual appearance of this public green space. The project will benefit the community by reducing flooding in an area which is home to more than 500 businesses and contribute significantly to the economic vitality of the town.
- Lisbon - $435,000 to construct sidewalks along Sergeants Way. The project will significantly reduce safety and liability concerns for the town as the current conditions of the sidewalks are hazardous, and will improve the quality of life for residents in the community.
- Morris - $150,000 to make improvements to the Morris Volunteer Fire House, which is the Designated Emergency Operation Center for the town. This project will make the fire house's facilities accessible to the handicapped and elderly during emergency conditions.
- North Haven - $400,000 to support the Town of North Haven's plan to refurbish its Central Block Area, which includes its town hall, police department, library, historical preservation building and fire department. The town will improve its parking areas, traffic flow, streetscaping, landscaping, and sidewalk configurations within this area. This project will benefit the local community by improving public safety and access to the downtown businesses and services.
- Salisbury/Sharon - $500,000 to construct a transfer station that will mutually benefit the residents of both the Town of Salisbury and the Town of Sharon. This project will directly benefit the 7,000 residents of both towns as no other outlet for municipal solid waste is available in either town.
- Sprague - $420,000 to construct a cold storage shed for the Public Works Department in Sprague. The project will allow for the safe, dry storage of new and older equipment, and will protect local environmental resources from contamination caused by run off or leakage from the equipment.
- Sterling - $400,000 to replace nine culverts and resurface approximately 26,400 lineal feet on Gibson Hill Road. The failure of repeated temporary fixes on this heavily traveled route, combined with inadequate drainage, has resulted in numerous accidents on this road. This will benefit the local community by making Gibson Hill Road a safer road for residents and visitors.
- Tolland - $400,000 to renovate and expand the Tolland Public Works Garage. The project will include new vehicle storage, truck wash bay, public water and sewer line extension, site improvements and energy conservation. This project will benefit the local community by helping to maintain town assets and respond more effectively to storm events.
- Woodbridge - $400,000 to support the planning and construction of the renovation of the interior and exterior of the existing regional animal shelter that jointly serves Woodbridge, Bethany and Derby. This project will benefit the three communities and aid in the humane treatment and care of animals in the region.
- Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
- Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy