The NRVT needs your help. Please read and share with friends. The deadline to act is end of day Friday. Thank you!Action Alert: To help build the Norwalk River Valley Trail please reach out to your State Representatives and Senator by Close of Business this Friday with a request to support the CT DEEP Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program. This is the grant program that's provided the $1.3 million grant for WilWalk and the $375,000 grant for the Redding Mile. These grants are crucial to building more of the NRVT. Information on the grant program, and suggested support language, is outlined below.
Here's a chance to make a difference. Individual contacts from citizens like us have real impact.
Dear Representative _____________ or Senator ______________,
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to support bonding for the CT DEEP Recreational Trails & Greenways Grants Program at the level of $3 million in the FY 2020-21 bonding package. This level of bonding (actually $4 million) was supported unanimously by the Environment Committee and was included in Section 69 of the substitute for S.B. 876.
{Add something about your organization’s and/or your interest in supporting recreational trails}
Since 2016, the Recreational Trails & Greenways Program has invested $10 million into 60 matching grants to municipalities and nonprofits, and has also supported multiple State Park and Forest projects that benefit more than half of all communities statewide.
Unfortunately, there is no remaining bonding authorized to support the continuance of this successful program, despite over $12 million in funding requests being received in the last grant round alone. Your support of this program is essential!
Recreational trails are one of the best ways that bond funds can be invested. Recreational trails for hiking, running, biking, equestrian, and other uses attract and sustain families and businesses, create healthy communities, and foster a high quality of life. Trails are also a critical part of Connecticut’s outdoor recreation infrastructure and economy that generates $9 billion in consumer spending, $2.9 billion in wages and salaries in the private sector, $734 million in state and local tax revenues, and supports 69,000 Connecticut jobs every year.
Please strongly support bonding for this program that is so essential to Connecticut, and thank you in advance for your consideration!
Sincerely,
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