(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is releasing $30 million in state grants to 46 small towns in Connecticut that will be used to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements, such as road safety reconstruction projects, emergency management upgrades, sidewalk and pedestrian safety enhancements, educational and recreational facility upgrades, and other kinds of capital improvement projects.

The grants are being provided through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), a state program managed by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) that delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life capital projects. In addition to the grants from the state, each municipality is also contributing funds, bringing the total spent on the 48 projects to $43.4 million in a combination of state, local, and other funding sources.

“Our small towns are an important part of what makes Connecticut such a special place to live and work,” Governor Lamont said. “By partnering with each town, we can help get these infrastructure projects completed so these towns can continue to thrive, remain competitive, attract businesses, and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

Towns seeking funding under this current round of STEAP grants were required to submit applications to the state by February 20, 2025. Towns selected to receive grants will soon be contacted by OPM with an official award notification and further instructions. Funding to support these grants was recently approved by the State Bond Commission, a group that Governor Lamont leads as chairperson.

The STEAP grants awarded in this round include:

Ashford: $400,000 in state funding is approved for the repaving of the Ashford Public Works Facility. This will be matched by $104,701 from the town.
Beacon Falls: $1 million in state funding is approved for Maple, Century, and Division Roadway rehabilitation and complete streets improvements. This will be matched by $927,150 from the town.
Berlin: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Berlin Peck Library reroofing and mechanical replacement project. This will be matched by $240,000 by the town.
Bolton: $427,863 in state funding is approved for Notch Road community event space. This will be matched by $89,250 from the town.
Branford: $1 million in state funding is approved for Town Center sidewalk improvements. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Brookfield: $545,000 in state funding is approved for Phase 1 of the Brookfield High School athletic fields renovations. This will be matched by $230,000 from the town.
Burlington: $255,664 in state funding is approved for the Town Hall Emergency Standby/Station 1 EMS Command Center. This will be matched by $63,916 from the town.
Canaan: $620,051 in state funding is approved for critical municipal infrastructure. This will be matched by $155,014 from the town.
Cheshire: $1 million in state funding is approved Phase II of Mixville Park improvements. This will be matched by $281,800 from the town.
Chester: $796,000 in state funding is approved for the infrastructure and repair of Three Local Bridges. This will be matched by $199,000 from the town.
Clinton: $543,600 in state funding is approved for the Clinton Public Works and Emergency Management Building. This will be matched by $135,900 from the town.
Colchester: $900,000 in state funding is approved for Lebanon Avenue Airline Trail Head and Mill Street streetscape improvements. This will be matched by $220,000 from the town.
Colebrook: $412,739.02 in state funding is approved for municipal roads and parking lot renovations. This will be matched by $103,184.76 from the town.
Durham: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Shady Lane reconstruction. This will be matched by $270,000 from the town.
Essex: $1 million in state funding is approved for Phase II of the Essex Public Works Campus Improvements. This will be matched by $1 million from the town.
Fairfield: $601,170 in state funding is approved for the repaving of Phase 2 of the Reef Road pedestrian improvements. This will be matched by $150,292 from the town.
Farmington: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Tunxis Mead Improvement Plan. This will be matched by $502,000 from the town.
Franklin: $100,000 in state funding is approved for the Franklin Elementary School/Emergency Shelter Generator Engineering and Acquisition. This will be matched by $20,000 from the town.
Granby: $579,825 in state funding is approved for the Salmon Brook Park Connector and Auxiliary Parking. This will be matched by $117,000 from the town.
Hampton: $500,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Windham Road. This will be matched by $220,000 from the town.
Ledyard: $892,888.10 in state funding is approved for the Town Playground Improvement Project. This will be matched by $179,000 from the town.
Litchfield: $500,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Wigwam Road. This will be matched by $873,190 from the town.
New Canaan: $300,000 in state funding is approved for Phase 2 improvements to Waveny Park Playground. This will be matched by $325,000 from the town, and $150,000 from the Friends of Waveny Playground.
Newington: $485,610.60 in state funding is approved for the Candlewyck Park Inclusive Playground. This will be matched by $121,365 from the town.
New Milford: $1 million in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Merryall Road. This will be matched by $316,192 from the town.
Newtown: $600,000 in state funding is approved for the Newtown Community Center Splash Pad and Storage Facility. This will be matched by $573,000 from the town, and $48,000 from community donations.
North Branford: $1 million in state funding is approved Edward Smith Library HVAC Improvements. This will be matched by $850,000 from the town.
North Stonington: $76,800 in state funding is approved for Transfer Station Permanent Pads. This will be matched by $19,200 from the town.
North Stonington: $66,721.39 in state funding is approved for North Stonington Education Center Meeting Space Upgrade. This will be matched by $16,680.35 from the town.
North Stonington: $479,775 in state funding is approved for the improvement of Three Municipal Parking Lots and Culvert Pipe Replacement on Hangman Hill and Reutemann Road. This will be matched by $119,944 from the town.
Old Saybrook: $667,948 in state funding is approved for Ferry Road Soccer Field renovation. This will be matched by $222,649 from the town.
Orange: $600,000 in state funding is approved for parking lot paving and guardrail replacement. This will be matched by $150,000 from the town.
Plainville: $672,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of recreational facilities at Charles H. Norton Park. This will be matched by $168,000 from the town.
Portland: $1 million in state funding is approved for Phase II of High Street Water Main Replacement and Road Reconstruction. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Preston: $450,000 in state funding is approved for Preston Community Park improvements. This will be matched by $100,000 from the town.
Putnam: $1 million in state funding is approved for Sports Complex improvements project. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Ridgefield: $280,640 in state funding is approved for concrete endwall replacement on Canterbury Lane. This will be matched by $102,160 from the town.
Roxbury: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Roxbury Volunteer Ambulance Building. This will be matched by $250,000 from the town.
Salem: $168,000 in state funding is approved for Salem Center Community Building upgrades. This will be matched by $34,000 from the town.
Salisbury: $328,000 in state funding is approved for Salisbury Recreational improvements. This will be matched by $82,000 from the town.
Scotland: $248,651 in state funding is approved for Municipal Safety Complex and Community Hall repairs and upgrades. This will be matched by $27,628 from the town.
Sharon: $1 million in state funding is approved for River Road pavement and embankment stabilization. This will be matched by $700,000 from the town.
Shelton: $1 million in state funding is approved for public facility and recreational enhancements. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Sherman: $230,000 in state funding is approved to repair and renovate the Scouthouse. This will be matched by $46,000 from the town.
Somers: $191,224 in state funding is approved for the Connor’s Place Playground resurfacing. This will be matched by $47,806 from the town.
Union: $120,000 in state funding is approved for rehabilitation of Holland Road. This will be matched by $24,000 from the town.
Voluntown: $1 million in state funding is approved for Congdon Road Improvements. This will be matched by $250,000 from the town.
Westport: $1 million in state funding is approved for replacement of the Cross Highway Bridge over Deadman Brook. This will be matched by $1,130,154 from the town, and $619,846 from LoCIP funding.