Ellington Receives State Grant For Park Improvements, Charging Station

ELLINGTON, CT — State and local officials on Tuesday announced a $443,856 grant-in-aid to the town of Ellington for park improvements and the installation of a municipal charging station.

Chaired by Gov. Ned Lamont, this money is part of the State Bonding Commission’s most recent meeting agenda, which is directed to local nonprofits, governments and state agencies seeking funding to support a variety of projects across Connecticut.

“Since Gov. Lamont and I took office in 2019, we wanted to make sure that our state was doing its part when it came to renewable energy, wanting to make Connecticut a leader in green energy and reducing carbon emissions,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said. “The investment in this charging station may seem small to some, but we have to look at our bigger picture. The more these charging stations become the norm, the more people begin to buy electric vehicles, the more our state plays a role in reaching our reduced carbon emission goals.”

Ellington First Selectman Lori Spielman said, "We are so fortunate to have received this funding from the state. It is such a wonderful opportunity to improve our community for residents and visitors alike."

"These investments in our community will provide positive benefits to residents, and I'm grateful to our state's leaders for dedicating funds to Ellington," State Sen. Saud Anwar said. "These improvements to our parks will provide improved recreational opportunities for residents, while a municipal charging station will provide better access to clean vehicle technology for the town."

Earlier this year, Lamont signed into law two bills that further demonstrate Connecticut’s commitment to mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis by decarbonizing the electric sector and expanding existing renewable energy programs.

Following those two key pieces of legislation, Lamont then enacted Public Act 22-25, a landmark new law that includes a number of actions that will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector, improve air quality and health outcomes for Connecticut residents, and help to mitigate impacts from the climate crisis.

"We've worked hard to support community groups and municipal leaders to make improvements to our towns," State Rep. Jamie Foster said. "These park improvements can be transformative and allow the town to capitalize on existing funds, equipment and plans."