Brookfield Tapped To Receive State Infrastructure Grant

BROOKFIELD, CT — Brookfield High School will be the beneficiary of one of 46 state grants being released through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday.

The state has approved $545,000 in funding for Phase 1 of the Brookfield High School athletic fields renovations. This will be matched by $230,000 from the town.

The project will add an estimated 380 hours of field usage each year, according to Brookfield Economic Development Specialist Greg Dembowski. The extra utility comes with the addition of 56 precision engineered light fixtures on ten 70-foot high steel poles around the softball and baseball fields. Target date for completion is the fall of 2025.

Phases 2 and 3 will be the subject of future grant applications and additional town funds to improve storm water drainage, upgrade to artificial turf, and add home run fencing, a concession stand and public restrooms, Dembowski told Patch.

See Also: Crews Begin Demolition Work, Paving Way For New Brookfield Housing

In total, $30 million in state grants will be doled out 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.

STEAP is managed by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management and 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.

Brookfield has been applying for and receiving STEAP funding since 2015 for various capital improvement projects, including multiple Streetscape improvements in the TCD, Town Hall Renovations, new pickleball courts and a WPCA Sewer extension.

“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, 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.