2 Stonington Cultural Organizations Receive Grants Via State Program

STONINGTON, CT — The state is releasing more than $7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations to make facility and infrastructure upgrades at 34 cultural and historic sites.

Two of those sites are in Stonington and North Stonington. The Yellow Farmhouse Education Center in Stonington received $288,000 to upgrade wayfinding signage to make it easier for visitors to navigate the 63-acre property, build accessible pathways and restrooms to make the property more comfortable for visitors of all abilities, and build a multipurpose Welcome Pavilion which will serve as a three-season programming and gathering place and welcome center.

"I am thrilled the Yellow Farmhouse Education Center at Stone Acres Farm in Stonington is one of the recipients of this grant,” Rep. Aundré Bumgardner (D – Groton, Stonington) said in a statement. “This funding will allow the working farm to make the space more accessible, so that it can continue promoting a healthy and thriving local food system that is accessible and affordable to all. I am grateful to Governor Lamont and DECD for their support in helping us preserve this valuable community asset for future generations.”

In North Stonington, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation was awarded $421,050 to develop public programs that value their ancestry, traditions, and way of life.

The funds are being released under the state’s Good to Great Grant Program, which is co-administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and CT Humanities, according to a statement

It was established in 2014 with the goal of helping nonprofit arts, cultural, or history organizations enhance visitors’ experiences.

“As one of the oldest states in the nation, Connecticut has many unique cultural and historic sites that not only share the history of our state but also provide avenues for that culture to continue into today,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “I’m glad that we can release this state funding and get it into the hands of these nonprofit organizations, who will use these grants to maintain and enhance the valuable services they provide to residents and visitors to our state.”