Berlin Library Project Gets Key State Funding

BERLIN, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday he is releasing $30 million in state grants to 46 small towns in Connecticut, including Berlin, for various infrastructure work.

Those funds 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.

In Berlin, Lamont released $1 million in state funding for the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library reroofing and mechanical replacement project.

This will be matched by $240,000 by the town.

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,” 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 Feb. 20.

For more information on the STEAP grant awards, click on this link.