HARTFORD — Governor Ned Lamont announced November 9 that he has approved more than $11 million in state funding for grants through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) that will be awarded to 94 small towns across Connecticut for various infrastructure improvement projects. This is the first time since 2016 that the state has awarded STEAP funding.

The governor said that he reinstated the program in an effort to support Connecticut’s municipalities while implementing projects that will give a boost to the economy and help in their response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For this round of funding, he implemented a special COVID-19 provision to support towns with expenditures related to their ongoing response to the pandemic, including for new construction, expansion, renovation, or replacement of existing facilities.

Some of the approved projects include items such as the construction of a pavilion to hold outdoor municipal meetings, breathing units for firefighters as part of their response to COVID-19, and HVAC improvements related to the pandemic, among other items.

Newtown was awarded $128,205 in state funding for the installation of a parking lot, pavilion, and kiosk at the Sandy Hook Heritage Park and Trail. This will be matched by $12,000 from the town, according to the information received from the governor’s office.

“I am happy with the news, as we had to act quickly in order to get the application in and it had to be a project that was ready to go,” said Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal. “Many thanks to Christal Prezler, Kim Chiapetta, and Christine O’Neil from Economic and Community Development for their efforts. Hopefully, this combined with SHOP’s [Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity] ongoing efforts will make this project a reality.”

“This is such great news,” responded Christal Preszler, director of Economic and Community Development for Newtown. “We have lots to sort through and planning to do as well. No question it is great news for Sandy Hook and Newtown, especially at such a difficult time.”

Preszler added, “The award of $128,205 for this phase of the project will help improve quality of life for residents as well as visitors by mitigating potential adverse environmental impacts from the site and create pedestrian access with improved infrastructure, including lighting and sidewalks, as well as a paved parking area providing additional, welcome parking for the restaurants and other businesses in Sandy Hook Village. The STEAP funds will continue to improve the property in addition to the funds that have been expended to date.”

Also commenting on the announcement were State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky R-106 and JP Sredzinski, R-112, and State Senator Tony Hwang R-28.

Representative Bolinsky said, “I always love good news! This Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant for the Sandy Hook Heritage Park & Trail project will help turn a vacant brownfield into an improved, landscaped destination that will serve to anchor a walking trail highlighting the history of Sandy Hook, using a series of historical markers. It’s exciting to recognize [the village’s] past in such an interactive way and share some known and little-known facts about Sandy Hook, a historical mill town on the banks of the Pootatuck River.”

The funding complements the Sandy Hook Streetscape grant from few years ago, Bolinsky added, benefiting economic development within Sandy Hook Village.

“The STEAP grants are a critical way of helping smaller towns like Newtown grow, stay vital, and maintain the charm that makes living in Connecticut so special,” said Rep Sredzinski.

Senator Hwang said, “This STEAP grant is a timely investment in our community... I am grateful that Governor Lamont is prioritizing funding for projects that will go a long way to preserve and improve Sandy Hook’s history, recreational offerings, and aesthetic. The Sandy Hook Heritage Park and Trail improvements will greatly enhance an otherwise lesser known local treasure.”]

“Our small towns have been hit hard by COVID-19 and are in need of our help to fund these projects,” Lamont said. “Simply put, some of our small towns need to modernize their infrastructure so that we can support efforts to grow the economy but lack the property tax base they need to fully fund these projects on their own. The state can and should do what we can to help with these costs as these small towns drive tourism, honor our deep and celebrated history, and provide us with family-friendly getaways that are part of the New England experience.”

STEAP grants are coordinated by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, and are administered by the appropriate state agencies depending on the specific project involved. Under state law, STEAP grants can only be used for capital projects. A project is considered to be a capital project if it is new construction, expansion, renovation, or replacement for an existing facility or facilities. Project costs can include the cost of land, design, engineering, architectural planning, and contract services needed to complete the project. Towns selected for an award are required to execute a contract with the state agency assigned to administer their grant before they incur any project-related expenditures.