State Representatives Hank Bielawa, R-2nd, and David Scribner, R-107 th , and State Senator David Cappiello, R-24 th today announced the State Bond Commission is expected to authorize a $250,000 grant to replace sidewalks in Bethel. The item is on the Bond Commission's agenda for Thursday, September 23 in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford at 10:30 a.m.

The funding will allow for the completion of a sidewalk replacement program. According to local officials, in November 2001 50 percent of the 8.5 miles of sidewalk in town failed inspection. The town began sidewalk replacement in June 2003. The town's highway department is overseeing the project.

The grant monies were available through STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program), a program administered by the Office of Policy and Management that assists small towns with economic development and community/quality of life projects. STEAP was created in the 2001 legislative session as a means for towns with populations under 30,000 to apply for funds to finance projects that would have otherwise been paid out of their annual operating budget.

"This STEAP grant will allow the Town of Bethel to complete the sidewalk project, which provides safe pedestrian traffic throughout the community," said Rep. Bielawa. "The state funding is proof that by working together, Bethel's legislative delegation can serve the town's best interests."

"I'm very grateful to Governor Rell for supporting the request for Bethel to further enhance the treasure of our community: it's downtown," said Representative Scribner. "In recent years, I've been fortunate to work with other legislators to secure funding that has made the downtown area a destination. This project is truly an example of what the STEAP program was intended to do, which is invest in economic development for small communities like Bethel."