Major State Grant Awarded To Project In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford has been awarded nearly $668,000 in state funds for the Stratford Arboretum project, according to officials.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced this week that 18 municipalities and non-profits will receive over $7.8 million as part of the newly created Long Island Sound Ecosystems Grant Program.

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The funds are for improving water quality, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and improving fish passage, according to a statement.

Stratford will receive $667,500 for the Stratford Arboretum project. The funds will go toward green stormwater infrastructure and construction.

“Almost all of Connecticut is within the Long Island Sound watershed,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in a statement. “These innovative projects will protect and restore valuable coastal marsh habitat, remove impediments to migratory fish passage, and advance innovative green stormwater infrastructure – advancing our shared goal of protecting and improving the health of the Sound that provides ecosystem, recreation, and economic benefits to the citizens of Connecticut. We are grateful to our federal partners at EPA and NOAA for their support in making this impactful program possible.”

The funded projects are intended to ensure consistency with regional restoration and water quality objectives.

They will also advance the state’s restoration project pipeline by supporting a combination of planning, engineering, design, and construction funding needs, according to the statement.