Towns look to tap into new round of grant funding

The town of Kent has applied for a STEAP grant to convert the Swift House into social service offices and the food bank.
Ruth Epstein
The town of Kent has applied for a STEAP grant to convert the Swift House into social service offices and the food bank.
It’s a never-ending goal for selectmen: find ways to increase revenue for their towns. One helpful source for many towns across the state, including those in the Northwest Corner, is the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, commonly know as a STEAP grant.
Martin Heft, who works with those grants at the state’s Office of Policy and Management, explained that these are funds available to towns that are ineligible to receive Urban Action bonds. They may be used for economic development, community conservation and quality-of-life projects. They must be for capital expenditures, which are those considered to be new construction, expansion, renovation or replacement for an existing facility or facilities.
This year $30 million has been allotted for the STEAP grants. The most a town can receive each fiscal year is $1 million. Award amounts will be based on the number of participating municipalities and the number of qualified applications. A 20% municipal match is preferred, but not required. Notification of award winners is expected to take place on April 3.
Once a town is granted the funds, an authorizing referendum vote and/or resolution by the local legislative body needs to be called by the Board of Selectmen in order to authorize the chief elected official to accept such a grant and enter into all contracts and agreements. If an award is approved, the town will be notified which state agency will be assigned to administer it. All grant payments will be made on a reimbursement basis.
Heft noted these are not annual grants, but are dependent on available funds and the governor’s approval.
According to information from OPM, “Any municipality that fails to adopt a plan of conservation and development at least once every 10 years shall be ineligible for discretionary state funding in excess of $25,000,” unless a special waiver is received.
Region One towns have submitted grant requests for a wide variety of projects.
In Sharon, the money is being sought to help correct a long-standing problem. First Selectman Casey Flanagan said the town is asking for $1 million to repair River Road, which has been reduced to one lane for about two years due to cracks in the pavement. “Water is seeping underneath and undermining the roadway,” he said. “Heavy rains are causing water to come down and wash away fine materials. We’ve been working with Cardinal Engineering to fix it. It’s not good. If the road washes away, it could trap those in houses beyond that area.”
Kent First Selectman Martin Lindenmayer said his town is looking for $1 million to renovate the Swift House on Maple Street (Route 341 East), which dates back to the 1700s, in order to relocate the social services office and town food bank to that site. “This will give us an opportunity to have the food bank open more,” he said. There are plans to put another room onto the building. A center room will be used for a common area. He said the food bank’s refrigerators and freezers can be housed there, since the floors have been determined to have adequate weight-bearing features.
In Falls Village, First Selectman David Barger said the town hopes to get a grant of $977,507 for several projects. These include making improvements to the salt shed and water-oil separator at the town garage, a new trash compactor at the transfer station, as well as a more secure (bear-proof) area at the site, some renovations to the Senior Center, repairs to the Town Hall roof, tree removal, upgrades at the recreation center and money toward replacing two town trucks. He gave high praise to the newly formed grant committee that helped in devising the list.
STEAP grants in Cornwall will go toward façade improvements for buildings owned by businesses or nonprofits, said First Selectman Gordon M. Ridgway. “We’ve done this before in three other cycles and it’s really been a big help,” he said. “It’s key to building the local economy, giving jobs to contractors and supporting lumberyards” The upgrades can be to increase energy efficiency, improve landscapes, parking lots and plantings, as well as painting. He said a prominent barn in town will be painted if the grant comes through. Cornwall is asking for $475,000.
Recreational projects are the focus of the STEAP grant application for $350,000 in Salisbury. First Selectman Curtis G. Rand said the bulk of the work is for upgrades at the Town Grove, such as the kiddy swimming dock and padding under the playground. Improvements will also be made to the all-purpose court on Salmon Kill Road if the grant is awarded.
North Canaan did not submit a STEAP grant application this year. Paul Mattingly, the selectmen’s executive assistant, wrote he and First Selectman Brian Ohler “are still gathering the necessary information for numerous road/bridge projects, as well as the pending needs for our local transfer station. North Elm Street, Sand Road, West Main Street and Old Turnpike South are all in need of engineering assessments, which will allow us to then compile the data needed to support our future STEAP grant applications. Each road’s surface is deplorable, and in some areas, a harboring pool for excess water and stormwater runoff. Increased truck traffic has not been kind to these particular roads. The scope of work will include all new excavations and drainage, along with a new road surface which will be rebuilt from the subsurface on up.”
Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.
Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.
Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.
On Sunday, July 6 at 2:30 p.m., the next master pianist, Yefim Bronfman, joins Andris Nelsons as he conducts the BSO in the Shed. Bronfman features in an All-Beethoven program. Hear the Leonore Overture No. 2 followed by the Piano Concerto No. 3, a deeply expressive work that highlights the lively interplay between the BSO strings, winds, and Bronfman’s piano. After intermission, experience the epic Symphony No. 5.
On Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons join pianist Seong-Jin Cho in celebrating the 150th birth year of Maurice Ravel. Expressive, sincere, and wonderful, Cho’s playing is bound to create a rich evening of music that includes “Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun” (Debussy), “Piano Concerto in G” (Ravel), “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand” (Ravel), and “La Mer” (Debussy).
On Sunday, July 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen will be a superb combination, along with the energetic young Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto. Kuusisto comes from distinguished musical lineage, and he’s equally captivating whether performing classical works or masterfully weaving Northern European folk melodies. The program includes “Tumblebird Contrails” (Gabriella Smith), “Violin Concerto” (Sibelius), and “Symphony No. 5” (Sibelius).
On Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons present the Piccini’s “Tosca,” with special guest singers Kristine Opolais, Seok Jong Baek, Bryn Terfel, Patrick Carfizzi and the entire Tanglewood Festival Chorus, with James Burton conducting. Expect an unforgettable evening in the Shed, with beauty and brilliance at full volume—star power layered on star power.
Beginning Thursday, July 24 at 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall, the TMC Festival of Contemporary Music kicks off with Ortiz and the Mexican Tradition. This year’s festival runs through Monday, July 28 and features music of Mexican music educator and composer Gabriela Ortiz Torres, Carnegie Hall’s composer in residence for the 2025 season. This superb Festival within a Festival is a proverbial “Box of Chocolates”, where you never quite know what flavor is in the middle until you bite.
On Friday, July 25at 8 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons welcome Spanish-born violinist María Dueñas. At a mere 18 years old, Dueñas has already won the 2021 Menuhin Competition, including the audience award. The BBC also named her as its “New Generation Artist 2021-2023.” This program includes “Air,” from Orchestral Suite No. 3 (J.S. Bach), and “Adagio from Symphony No. 10” (Mahler) before Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto”,“Calm Sea”, and “Prosperous Voyage.”
On Sunday, July 27 at 2:30 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons welcome pianist Lang Lang.Lang Lang is squarely in the 100% not to be missed category, and this afternoon the audience will be indulged with “La Calaca” (Gabriela Ortiz) for string orchestra, Piano Concerto No. 2 (Saint-Saëna), and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6, Pastoral.”
On Saturday, August 16 at 8 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra join with German conductor and concert pianist Anna Handler and young Italian-German-American violinist Augustin Hadelich to present the Brahms’s “Tragic Overture,” “Symphony No. 4” (Schumann), andTchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. The constellation this evening looks to become especially bright, colorful, and passionate. Plan to come early and stay late.
On Sunday, August 17 at 2:30 p.m. in the Shed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra welcomes conductor Dima Slobodeniouk, who was born in Moscow and settled in Finland.Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is another musician not to miss; every appearance is fresh and lively. This program includes “Threnody (In Memory of Jan Sibelius)” by William Grant Still, “Piano Concerto No. 2” (Liszt), “Valse triste” (Sibelius), and “Symphony No. 3.” (Sibelius).
The 2025 Tanglewood season promises to be another exciting one. A quick note: the BSO has faced issues with ticket resellers posing as official sources and charging inflated prices. To avoid this, be sure to purchase tickets in advance only through bso.org.
SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.
Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.
James attended Millbrook School, Ripon College, and the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven, Connecticut.
He proudly served in the Navy and his dedication to his craft led him to later own several restaurants, including the renowned Fox & Fox in Gaylordsville, and most recently, Panini Cafe in Kent. He went on to become a staple at the Cornwall Farmer’s Market, known for his delicious soups.
James lived in Sharon, for 20 years, where he cherished the serenity tending to the gardens and property. Perpetually in motion, he filled his days with gardening, tending his property, and engaging in hobbies such as collecting model cars, woodworking, and perfecting his culinary creations.He never hesitated to take on a new project, no matter the scope.Not many 82-year-olds can say they fully remodeled a bathroom single handedly.After a full day of work, one of his greatest joys was relaxing at the end of the day in front of the fireplace.
James is survived by his constant companion of 22 years, Kathie Dolan; his two sons; Adam Fox of Montpelier, Vermont and Emmett Fox of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; his brother, Tom Fox of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother-in-law, Gary Sarachan of St. Louis; and several nieces, including Sydney Fox Sarachan of St. Louis, Carrie Fox of Phoenix, and Amanda Fox of Columbus, Ohio. He also leaves behind his grandson, Aidan Fox of New Hampshire, extended family, Erin Dolan, Megan Mollica, Rory Dolan, his dog, Django, and his cat, William.
James will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His unique sense of humor and culinary excellence will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
All services are private.
FALLS VILLAGE — Richard Stone of Main Street passed away June 25, 2025, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.
Born Feb. 12, 1942, in Ossining, New York, Richard was son of the late Howard Stone and Victoria (Smith) Stone.
He attended public schools in Ossining and then studied architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. After graduation he became a licensed architect.
Richard admired contemporary architecture by Corbusier, Philip Johnson, and Louis Kahn, but also many earlier and folk designs. His projects included re-erecting, at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, the 18th century Chinese house “Yin Yu Tang”, and also restoration of the historic Delaware & Hudson office building in Albany, New York. Broad cultural interests led him to travel around the world, but especially in Caribbean lands and Latin America.
Long a resident of Falls Village, Richard had a concern for the built environment surrounding him. More importantly, he cherished neighbors, church, and friends near and far.
Richard is survived by his three brothers; Thomas of Peabody, Massachusetts, William of Canaan, New Hampshire, and Kenneth of Medford, Massachusetts, their wives, and many nieces, nephews, and step siblings.
A service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 484 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut, on Thursday, July 31, at 11:30 a.m.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.