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For Immediate Release
December 18, 2007 |
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Shays Announces over
$700,000 in Funding for Redding
Funding is part of over $27 million in
funding provided to the Fourth Congressional District in the
Omnibus Package
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Christopher Shays announced
today that Redding will receive $782,550 in first responder
communications upgrades, as part of H.R. 2764, the Fiscal
Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Shays voted for
H.R. 2764, which includes over $27 million in funding for
the Fourth Congressional District, when it passed the House
by a vote of 253 to 154 on December 17.
“As we saw on September 11th, first responder communications
is critical for effective emergency response,” Shays
said. “I am grateful for this funding to improve interoperable
communications in Stamford, Norwalk and the Georgetown District.”
“The town of Redding is very grateful to Congressman
Shays for his diligence in pursuing this funding for a regional
communications initiative,” stated Redding First Selectman
Natalie Ketcham. “This funding will be instrumental
in making this happen.”
Specific projects details are listed below:
Town of Redding regional Centralized Communications
Center - $312,550
Greater Georgetown Interoperability - $470,000
Redding is working closely with the police departments in
the neighboring towns of Ridgefield, Weston and Wilton to
establish a new regional Centralized Dispatch Center (CDC)
for police, fire and EMS services. The CDC will provide vital
enhancement to the existing network with new interoperable
communications equipment to ensure the safety and well being
of first responders and the public they serve. It represents
a multi-jurisdictional approach to establishing long-term
interoperability and public safety communications systems
in the area.
Redding Total: $782,550
The legislation also includes the following district wide
projects:
Long Island Sound DMMP - $3.525 million
Funding for this project will assist in the Corps of Engineers
in finding environmentally friendly ways to manage extracted
dredged materials from Long Island Sound. These alternatives
include, but are not limited to, reducing sediment sources,
reducing contaminant loading and developing feasible beneficial
reuses for dredged material, with the goal of reducing or
eliminating the need for open water disposal.
One Coast, One Future - $250,000
One Coast, One Future is a consortium formed by the Bridgeport
Regional Business Council and The Business Council of Fairfield
County. The initiative seeks to spark new and renewed economic
growth, job creation and individual economic opportunity by
linking the Coastal Fairfield County region’s business
centers. One Coast, One Future has been funded through nearly
$1 million in federal funds secured by Congressman Shays.
One Coast, One Future’s long-term plan consists of
eight key objectives including a Comprehensive Economic Development
plan; development of a marketing campaign focused on development
and housing opportunities; development of a marketing campaign
focused on cultural and entertainment opportunities; creating
a growth strategy for jobs in healthcare; linking employer
needs with available employee skills through a JobsNet; maintaining
the competitive educational position of coastal Fairfield
County through a higher education initiative; expanding opportunities
for minority and women-owned business development groups through
a New Partners project; and creating a WI-FI network in city
centers.
Long Island Sound - Increase President's Budget $4.922
million
Long Island Sound is one of the estuaries included in the
National Estuary Program (NEP) within the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). NEP is designed to promote comprehensive planning
for long-term protection of estuaries through collaborative
voluntary efforts of federal, state, local, non-profit, and
private interests. Approximately 10 percent of the American
population lives within the Long Island Sound watershed. It
is one of the most populated, visited and traveled areas of
the country, and contributes over $5 billion annually to the
regional economy.
In 2000, the Long Island Sound Restoration Act authorized
the federal government to spend $40 million annually to clean
up the Sound. It focused on providing aid to distressed communities
that would otherwise not be able to cleanup their shores.
Over the past six years, these funds, along with funds provided
by the states of New York and Connecticut, have helped local
communities repair their sewage treatment plants and decrease
nitrogen levels in the Sound.
The Long Island Stewardship Act gives those most familiar
with the Sound's precious and diverse resources the tools
necessary to continue their conservation efforts, and applies
the most effective methods available to identify, protect,
and enhance sites with ecological, educational, and recreation
value in Connecticut and New York.
The legislation implements cutting-edge conservation techniques
that will allow local environmental groups to identify sites
for preservation and create an adaptable management plan that
will ensure the sites with the greatest value are protected.
Long Island Sound is a source of livelihood, nourishment
and recreation for many in Connecticut and elsewhere. Long
Island Sound is our Yellowstone. It is critical that we treat
it well, and make every effort to protect and preserve areas
along the Sound's shorelines with significant ecological,
recreational or educational value.
Contact: Dave Natonski , 202/225-5541
Contact:
Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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