Governor Rell Announces Funds

For Sandy Hook Streetscape Project

By John Voket

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced on September 29 that Newtown would be among the Danbury-area towns sharing in more than $1.4 million in grants for projects to increase economic activity, improve local attractions and enhance local schools, among others.

The towns in the Danbury area are receiving grants from the Connecticut Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP). STEAP provides financial assistance for projects that encourage economic development and preserve the character of the state’s less-populated towns.

The grants include $100,000 in funding for the Sandy Hook streetscape project.

“The Sandy Hook project has already helped to bring new economic activity to the area through touch-ups like new lighting and sidewalks,” Gov Rell said. “This grant will help continue that effort, ideally bringing further job growth.”

Newtown Finance Director Robert Tait said the unanticipated funds could either be added to projected capital funding already earmarked in the town’s Capital Improvement plan (CIP), or be used to reduce capital bonding providing a small additional level of relief to taxpayers for the debt service on proposed borrowing for the next phase of that development project.

In a release accompanying the grant news, Gov Rell said encouraging economic development — without making fundamental changes in the nature of Connecticut’s small towns — is one critical goal of the STEAP grants.

“These projects will not only keep and grow jobs during their respective construction phases, they will also have lasting positive effects on the individual communities. From Brookfield to Newtown and from Warren to Sherman, all of these efforts will make life better for residents and for businesses,” the governor said. “Moreover, they will meet these goals without adding to the financial obligations local taxpayers already face.”

Among other recipients of this latest round of STEAP funding are:

 *Bethel, receiving $200,000 for demolition of a lead- and asbestos-containing town building and construction of a parking lot.

*Brookfield, receiving $250,000 for streetscape, signage and other improvements in the Four Corners area of Routes 25 and 7.

*New Fairfield, receiving $150,000 to build a walkway/trail system connecting a streetscape project to a new senior center.

*New Milford, receiving $80,000 to develop a strategic plan for including recommendations from the New Milford Plan of Conservation and Development.

*Redding, receiving $200,000 to complement state and federal funding already received for improvements to the Routes 107/57 and Route 107/Main Street intersections.

*Roxbury, receiving $80,000 to replace playground equipment at Booth Free Elementary School.

*Sherman, receiving $45,000 for improvements to the Sherman Playhouse and $50,000 for the redesign and repair of the Fox Run retention basin.

*Warren, receiving $250,000 for the renovation of the old Town Hall into a community and senior center.

The state-funded STEAP program provides funds to eligible towns for economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects. A total of $20 million in STEAP funds for 115 towns was approved when the state Bond Commission met August 17.