Deep River Receives $5,000 Grant For Downtown Lamppost Banner Program

DEEP RIVER, CT — Connecticut Main Street Center has awarded the town of Deep River a $5,000 Main Street Accelerator grant to support its Main Street Lamppost Banner Program.

Deep River was one of five communities selected for the 2026 Main Street Accelerator cohort, along with Fairfield, Torrington, Vernon and Westbrook, according to the release.

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The six-month program asks local teams to identify a community challenge and develop solutions using the Four Point Approach to Main Street management. Teams that complete the program are eligible for a grant to help carry out their project. The 2026 program and grants are supported by Webster Bank.

Deep River's Main Street Visionaries team, a volunteer subcommittee of the town's Economic Development Commission, focused on downtown placemaking and visual identity. The team includes municipal economic development staff, planning and zoning officials and a local business owner, according to Connecticut Main Street Center.

The banner program uses existing lighting infrastructure for a rotating display of banners highlighting hometown heroes, community traditions, seasonal artwork and historic moments, according to the release.

As part of the Accelerator program, the Deep River team created an action plan, marketing materials and a project budget. Since completing the program in June, the team has installed 32 banners honoring local veterans and the town's historic muster, beginning at Town Hall and expanding outward as new sponsors join the program. The first installation also coincided with the town's celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

"Our Accelerator program gives communities the support to turn ideas into meaningful action," Michelle McCabe, executive director of Connecticut Main Street Center, said in the release. "The Deep River team embraced that opportunity wholeheartedly. Their banner program is a beautiful example of how storytelling, pride, and collaboration can strengthen a downtown's identity and create lasting impact."

Kristen Lopez, senior director of programs at Connecticut Main Street Center, said Deep River developed a project that could begin quickly and expand over time.

"They built a framework that could be launched quickly, grow consistently, and incorporates sustainable funding," Lopez said in the release. "That kind of incremental strategic planning is exactly what helps downtowns thrive over time."

Sage Novak, an Accelerator member and owner of Compass Rose and Anchor & Compass, said the project has drawn attention downtown.

"People stop to look at and talk about the banners," Novak said in the release. "You can tell residents are proud, sponsors are excited, and visitors are noticing. This grant helps us keep that momentum going as we expand the program across the downtown."

Connecticut Main Street Center launched the Main Street Accelerator program in 2024. The program has trained 15 local teams from 14 communities to implement downtown projects, according to the release.

To date, Connecticut Main Street Center and funding partners Webster Bank, Chelsea Groton Foundation and Thomaston Savings Bank have awarded $35,000 in grant funds to Accelerator teams.