Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) welcomed the state’s announcement that $665,527 in state grants will be awarded to organizations in the 33rd Senate District in the summers of 2023 and 2024 through the state’s Summer Enrichment Program. This came as part of an announced $13 million in grants provided to 110 organizations across the state for the next two summers.
This program is intended to connect Connecticut students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with low- or no-cost high-quality enrichment opportunities when out of school in the summer months, This includes at summer camps, childcare centers and other similar programs, with communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic given priority support.
“Local children will have new opportunities to learn and grow, all while having fun, this summer thanks to these important grants,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and the Department of Education for their support.”
“Since we created this program a couple of years ago, these grants have expanded access to summertime learning opportunities for thousands of Connecticut students who otherwise may not have been able to enroll in this kind of high-quality programming,” Governor Lamont said. “Summer camps are a valuable experience for children when they are out of school – not only for supporting their overall education, but also when it comes to strengthening their social skills and emotional well-being. Continuing this program has been an important priority for our administration, and I’m glad that we are able to provide funding for it for another two summers.”
The following organizations in Sen. Needleman’s district received funding: Chester’s Camp Hazen YMCA will receive $100,000 distributed in $50,000 allotments in 2023 and 2024; Colchester’s Summer Day Camp will receive $148,595 in 2023 and $148,803 in 2024; Old Saybrook’s Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center will receive $19,754 allocations in 2023 and 2024; Westbrook’s Valley Shore YMCA will receive $113,437 in 2023 and $115,184 in 2024.