Grants

Grants made by the state are usually divided into two categories: (1) Grant Payments to Towns, and (2) Grant Payments Other Than to Towns. The first category, Grant Payments to Towns and cities, are for a specified purpose or reimbursements for expenses already incurred. Education grants make up the largest portion of these payments. These payments are made to the towns, not to the Boards of Education or other local subsidiary bodies. The second category, Grant Payments Other Than to Towns, are state obligations that are not part of an agency’s operating budget (i.e. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and payments to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund).

Grants to Towns

This publication provides grant estimates for FY 2010 and 2011, as well as actual grant payments for FY 2009, for certain ongoing grant programs under which the State of Connecticut’s payments to municipalities are determined by statutory formulas.

Grant Account Information

The following provides historical and explanatory information about grants that are funded by the State of Connecticut. This information includes: 1) historical expenditure levels for the past ten years; 2) estimated funding levels for the current fiscal year or biennium; 3) formulas (if any) for how the grants are distributed; and 4) a description of the grant programs. These grants are organized by agency.

Small Town Economic Assistance Program

The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) funds economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects for localities that are ineligible to receive Urban Action (CGS Section 4-66c) bonds. This program is administered by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). STEAP funds are issued by the State Bond Commission (SBC) and can only be used for capital projects. Programmatic expenditures or recurring budget expenditures are not eligible for STEAP or any other state bond program. STEAP grants-in-aid were not awarded in FY 2009 in an effort to control debt service expenditures from the General Fund.

Federal Block Grant Allocation Plans

The Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) prepares brief analyses to assist various legislative committees in their annual review of federal block grant allocation plans submitted by the Governor. Nine allocation plans are submitted each year, the majority of which are heard during September. The documents listed below do not incorporate any modifications to the plans that may have been adopted by the committees of cognizance prior to final approval.

School Construction and Technology Grants