State Senate Republican Leader Louis C. DeLuca (R-Woodbury) and State Rep. Craig Miner (R-Litchfield) announced today that the town of Bethlehem is set to receive two grants from the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) in the total amount of $340,000.

The first grant, in the amount of $117,500, will allow the town to build a new, four-foot wide sidewalk that extends from the center of town (at the intersection of Route 61/132) to the Bethlehem Elementary School. The total distance of this project is 2220 feet, of which 110 feet comprise a footbridge over a steep drop off area.

The second grant, in the amount of $222,500, will go towards improvements and upgrades to the town's firehouse. The project will include the construction of additional office space, replacing the boiler and improving access for the disabled.

"These two projects are very important to the residents of Bethlehem, and I am pleased that we were able to work together with Governor Rell and find the funding to get these efforts on track," said Senator DeLuca. "With all of the tax dollars the state sends to the big cities, it's good to have a program like STEAP to help our rural communities with important public safety and quality of life projects. Without funding like this, our small towns would be forced to pay for these projects by raising property taxes, and with all the tax dollars these towns already send to Hartford, it seems unfair to keep asking them to foot the bill entirely on their own."