Towns must demonstrate that their project addresses immediate concerns regarding community and environmental safety.
The state of Connecticut awarded funding to thirteen small towns Tuesday for infrastructure and quality-of-life capital projects.
The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) was established to fund capital projects centered around economic development and community conservation in towns ineligible to receive urban bonds. This is the third installment of grants this year and each project can receive up to $500,000.
First Selectman Wade E. Cole of Hartland, Conn., a small rural town on the Massachusetts border, was surprised and pleased when he learned Tuesday afternoon that his town was awarded $450,000 for the replacement of a bridge near the state border that receives frequent commuter traffic.
Cole said the bridge, built about 70 years ago, needs significant repair to ensure safety for travelers and protect the wetlands that surround it.
Hartland had struggled to scrape together the funding necessary to replace the bridge. They applied for the grant a few years ago.
"The grant weighs in hugely for the town, for us, with everything else we’ve got going on," Cole said. "We’ve been saving money for years… but it’s a very small town. It’s only 2,100 people, and a lot of kids. A lot of elderly people."
The other twelve grants were distributed to a variety of small-town projects, including a headquarters for the volunteer emergency medical service in Monroe, improvements to the Montville Transfer Station, and aiding the rehabilitation of the Darling Pond Dam in Chaplin.
Governor Dannel Malloy said in a statement that the STEAP grants get funding directly to municipalities.
"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," Malloy said.
To improve their chances of receiving an award, towns must demonstrate that their project addresses immediate concerns regarding community and environmental safety, among other qualifying factors.
The state Office of Policy and Management lists the revitalization projects in Hebron and Essex as "success stories" on their website.
