Today, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Town of Colchester will receive a $900,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program Grant to perform the Lebanon Avenue Airline Trail Head and Mill Street Streetscape Improvements. The CT STEAP grant will significantly contribute to the Town’s efforts to revitalize the Lebanon Avenue area and to improve walkability and outdoor recreation in Colchester. The project will renovate the airline trailhead entrance on Lebanon Ave with a new paved parking area and sidewalk connecting the trailhead to the Lebanon Ave sidewalk network. New timber fencing, historically educational signage, trees, and pollinator pathway plant beds will create a welcoming, walkable community entrance. New wayfinding signage along the trail will direct walkers, runners, and bikers to continue from the trail to the commercial businesses in the Town Center. The project also incorporates improvements to the sidewalk network intersection of Mill Street and Lebanon Ave, new sidewalk sections on Mill Street, and repaving of the portion of Mill Street beginning at Town Hall. This project is anticipated to have a significantly positive impact on the Colchester community and the economic vitality of the Town Green/Town Center area. The Town Green area is where much of the community's commercial, retail, and visitors' economy is centered. The project also represents a huge return on investment for the Town of Colchester as the first application approved as part of the Town’s grant writing consulting program since the Town hired Tyche Planning in December. The grant application was developed with assistance from Tyche and approved by the Board of Selectmen in February. The Board of Selectmen's presentation on the grant proposal from February can be viewed at the link below. Bernie Dennler First Selectman Town of Colchester, CT https://www.colchesterct.gov/home/news/colchester-receive-900000-small-town-economic-assistance-program-grant-lebanon-ave-airline (fb)

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