Eastern Connecticut Towns Receive State Funding.

Communities in the 47th General Assembly District will receive state grants for their projects. The state’s Bond Commission on Friday approved Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants for communities throughout the state, including Canterbury, Scotland, and Sprague. Canterbury is slated to receive $200,000 for renovation of the towns’ solid waste transfer station — including a bit of new construction. The Huntington Homestead Museum in Scotland is set to receive improvements through a $155,000 award, and Sprague will receive $147,000 for the reconstruction of LaCroix Bridge off Route 207 in Baltic. STEAP provides financial assistance for projects that encourage economic development and preserve the character of the state’s less-populated towns. The state-funded STEAP program provides funds to eligible towns for economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects. To be eligible, a town must have a population of less than 30,000 residents, not be designated as a distressed municipality or a public investment community and not have an urban center. The state Office of Policy and Management administers this program and individual projects are managed by several state agencies including DECD.