House Republican Press Release

March 31, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. RYAN ANNOUNCES STATE APPROVES DARIEN ARTS GRANT

DARIEN- State Representative John Ryan, R-Darien, today said he was pleased to announce that Darien’s $50,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant for the Darien Arts Center was approved.

The grant will be used for accessibility improvements and space renovation for Darien Arts Center.

Representative Ryan said “We are always pleased whenever there is an opportunity to bring funds back from Hartford for good causes in our community (and we come to, not just praise the Darien Arts Center, but to help them.)”

Ryan added, “Of course, the hard-working taxpayers of Darien do an excellent job of sending revenue to our State government, and it is good to know that Governor Rell recognizes that there are excellent organizations such as……….. that are worthy of recognition and support!”

The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) funds economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects for localities that are ineligible to receive Urban Action bonds.  This program is administered by the Office of Policy and Management.

STEAP funds are issued by the State Bond Commission and can only be used for capital projects.  Programmatic expenditures or recurring budget expenditures are not eligible for STEAP or any other state bond program.  However, some projects while generally capital in nature should not be funded with State bond money for various public policy reasons. Examples of these are 1) salt and sand sheds; 2) town office buildings and improvements; and 3) communications systems, such as police radios. 

Projects eligible for STEAP funds include:

1) economic development projects such as (a) constructing or rehabilitating commercial, industrial, or mixed-use structures and (b) constructing, reconstructing, or repairing roads access ways, and other site improvements; 

2) [Urban] transit; 

3) Recreation and solid waste disposal projects; 

4) social service-related projects, including day care centers, elderly centers, domestic violence and emergency homeless shelters, multi purpose human resource centers, and food distribution facilities; 

5) Housing projects; 

6) Pilot historic preservation and redevelopment programs that leverage private funds; and 

7) Other kinds of [urban] development projects involving economic and community development, transportation, environmental protection, public safety, children and families and social service programs.

Localities may receive up to $500,000 per year if (1) their population is under 30,000, (2) they are not designated as a distressed municipality or a public investment community, and (3) the State Plan of Conservation Development does not show them as having an urban center.