House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

April 11, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

Marilyn Giuliano Thanks Governor for $10,000 Grant to Fund Old Lyme Early Learning Arts Program

 

LEARN in Old Lyme will receive a $10,000 state grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism for an early learning arts experience for homeless children.

 

Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, R-23rd District, Old Lyme, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, thanked Gov. M. Jodi Rell and her administration for approving the grant.

 

“This is an innovative program using the arts to improve early childhood learning,” said Rep. Giuliano. “It is designed to enhance the quality of instruction and increase accessibility to early childhood learning experiences.”

 

The grant was included among $1.1 million in grants to 44 organizations across the state announced by Gov. Rell to help fund projects that enrich cultural appreciation.

 

The grants, awarded by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) are the result of $4 million in new funding allocated by Gov. in the state’s 2007-2008 budget.

 

LEARN, a Regional Educational Service Center (RESC), serves 24 school districts in southeastern/shoreline Connecticut. Established in 1967 by local districts, LEARN is one of the six RESCs in the state. The purpose of each RESC is to enhance the quality of education and provide solutions to identified needs through a wide range of programs and services.

 

LEARN currently serves twenty-five towns and communities with a student population of nearly 53,000. Through its leadership and resources and by working with schools, students, families, and other community agencies, LEARN promotes regional and statewide cooperation and provides a framework for districts to achieve their goals.

 

 “These projects enhance the vast and exciting cultural and tourism offerings in our state,” Governor Rell said.  “We want to bring together the arts, history, film and tourism to promote our cultural attractions and draw visitors to Connecticut.  These grants will bring about new and enhanced partnerships that will help create jobs while simultaneously fostering arts and history appreciation among our young people.

 

“We have not fully tapped the arts as an engine of employment and economic development.  There is plenty of room for job growth in our state’s arts industry and we want to do everything we can to stimulate and expand it.”