New London ― During a Monday morning press conference attended by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Michael Passero declared the city “was well-taken care of” by the recently passed $51.1 billion biennial state budget with funding earmarked for a host of local education, social service and business recipients.

“While the money funneling into the city’s coffers is appreciated, New London is rapidly regaining its position as the capital” of the region,“ Passero said to a small gathering of city department heads and others.

Passero’s sentiment was echoed by attending members of the city’s legislative delegation, state. Reps. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, and Christine Conley, D-Groton, and City Council President Reona Dyess.

Bysiewicz, along with Gov. Ned Lamont, is making stops at several municipalities this month to tout what they’ve described as a successful budget cycle approved with bi-partisan support on June 6.

“We’re trying to visit towns and cities across the state and let communities know what they’re going to receive,” she said. “This was an 815-page budget the legislature worked very hard on. And New London did extremely well with things like (Educational Cost Sharing), as did other Alliance districts.”

Alliance districts are those struggling Connecticut school systems eligible for additional state aid and program support.

In addition to highlighting statewide budget benefits such as tax cuts and an expansion in the earned income tax credit, Bysiewicz rattled off several specific to New London.

Those local monies included a $24,800 grant allowing for a new walk-in cooler and additional kitchen for the New London Community Meal Center; more than $1 million to facilitate the shift of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut to downtown New London; and a $500,000 grant to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for the creation of a new urban park.

“It has been a good year for New London,” Nolan said noting the budget will pay for new electric vehicle charging stations in the city and a trio of $10,000 grants for local youth football, cheerleading and Little League teams.

Dyess, who serves as the executive director of the Drop-In Learning Center on Federal Street, said she was “elated” so much of the state budget was set aside to buttress early learning programming.

j.penney.theday.com