| Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration is awarding nearly $12,000 in grants to Ridgefield public schools to make upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Ridgefield is in the first wave of funding for HVAC upgrades and is part of a larger initiative from the state.
The grants are being awarded through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools, a newly established state program that is administered by the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.
This initial round opened on September 14, 2022, and school districts seeking grants were required to submit applications to the state by December 1, 2022. Municipalities are required to provide matching grants to fund the project costs. Examples of eligible projects include:
- Replacing, upgrading, or repairing boilers and other heating and ventilation components;
- Replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations;
- Installing or upgrading air conditioning or ventilation systems; and
- Other similar work approved by the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services.
It was created as part of the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law in 2022 (Public Act 22-118). The program has been allocated $150 million through two revenue streams, including $75 million from state bond funding and $75 million from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. |
