Clinton Receives $500,000 STEAP Grant to Continue Streetscape Improvements

After recently completing improvements to parts of downtown Clinton, the town has now received another STEAP grant to continue the updates. It was announced this morning that the town has received a $500,000 STEAP grant for Streetscape Improvements. Improvements will include sidewalks, signage, lighting, landscaping for the downtown business district area, and the burial of some utility lines.

"I want to thank the town and Willie for the work that they've done," Lt. Gov. Wymann said this morning at the press conference held in downtown Clinton. "We are very proud to hand over this half a million dollars to get this project done."

Lt. Gov. Wymann was joined by Senator Art Linares, State Representative Tom Vicino, Clinton Selectmen Carol Walters, Lynn Pinder, and Police Commissioner Phil Sengle at the press conference this morning held in downtown Clinton.

"This is part of a long term economic development project for the revitalization of all of our businesses," State Representative Tom Vicino added. "This is a good move for the businesses, and as you can see the businesses are coming back to the community. This is a huge, vibrant, area of our community and a move in the right direction."

First Selectman Willie Fritz, who stated earlier this year that the town had applied for this second grant to complete the streetscape upgrades, was happy about the news. 

"I want to thank the Lt. Governor, Tom and Art for all their hard work," First Selectman Willie Fritz said this morning. "It shows their commitment to the small towns of Connecticut. We've been able to take advantage of several STEAP grants. This project which wrapped up a month ago, and this other grant will go to phase 2 of the project which we already have designed. As soon as we get the paperwork to the state we'll be ready to go out to bid."

Fritz stated that thanks to the grant, the town will be able to continue the streetscape upgrades from Main Street to 81, and will also include Commerce Street, Liberty Lane, and Post Office Square.

"We're doing stuff to support our small business, anything we can do to support them and keep them around," Fritz continued. "Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and we want to bring people downtown to them."