Wilton Awarded $1.425M Grant To Improve High School Sports Complex

**News Release Submitted by First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice**

I am pleased to share, through the advocacy of Congressman Jim Himes, Wilton was awarded a $1.425 million Member-Directed Community Project Grant for the much-needed enhancements to the storm mitigation and drainage system surrounding the Wilton High School Sports Complex. We are extremely appreciative to Congressman Himes and his staff for their efforts leading to this award.

The grant will allow the Town to implement recommendations made by town-hired consultants following damage to the WHS Stadium Track and Turf Field caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021. DPW Director Frank Smeriglio, who presented the recommendations at the April 6, 2022 Board of Selectmen meeting, will be responsible for the project.

Member-Directed Community Project Grants are highly competitive. We have successfully leveraged the program by receiving awards two years in a row. I’d like to acknowledge the contributions of Frank Smeriglio, who was responsible for the application, part-time employee Patricia Brandt, who utilized her prior professional grant writing experience to assist Frank with the application, and Former P& Zoning Commission Chair, current Amenities Master Planning Subcommittee member and WARF Government Liaison Scott Lawrence for his valuable testimony in support of the award.

We have aggressively focused on grants as a means of improving or creating new infrastructure while limiting the growth of property taxes. Since September 2018, we have been awarded approximately $26 million of such grants.

Questions? Please email Frank Smeriglio at frank.smeriglio@wiltonct.org or me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org

Lynne A Vanderslice
First Selectwoman