FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE

Monday, October 2, 2023

SEN. KUSHNER WELCOMES NEARLY $1 MILLION IN STATE AID FOR NEW FAIRFIELD TOWN GREEN, RIDGEFIELD ROAD CULVERT

State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) today welcomed the news that New Fairfield and Ridgefield will receive a combined $975,272 in state Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants for improvements to the New Fairfield Town Green and Mountain Road in Ridgefield.

“STEAP grants are particularly useful for many western Connecticut towns because they’re smaller towns and they aren’t eligible for urban grants,” Sen. Kushner said. “STEAP grants are specifically tailored to preserve the historical integrity and beauty of our small towns, while at the same time improving the local economy and quality of life, and that’s exactly what these two grants will do.”

New Fairfield received $475,272 in state funding for upgrades to its town green that will be matched by $413,117 in town funds. It was just two years ago in November 2021 that New Fairfield voters approved to purchase two parcels off Route 37 to create New Fairfield’s first town green, which is a typical feature of the many small New England towns and which often serves as a focal point for various community events.

Ridgefield received $500,000 in state funding for the replacement of the Mountain Road culvert, which abuts the 41-acre, man-made Rainbow Lake; this will be matched by $266,100 in town funds.

The New Fairfield and Ridgefield STEAP grants were part of $24.5 million in state grants for 60 small towns announced Friday by the Lamont administration.

The STEAP grants will be used to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements all across Connecticut, such as road safety reconstruction projects, sewer and drainage upgrades, sidewalk and pedestrian safety enhancements, recreational facility upgrades, and other kinds of capital improvement projects.

The STEAP program is managed by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life capital projects. Towns seeking funding under this round of STEAP grants were required to submit applications to OPM by August 18, 2023.

###