STAMFORD, CT — U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) late last month announced the inclusion of more than $236 million in the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate.

The bill, once passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Joe Biden, will fund 99 congressionally directed spending projects requested by Murphy and Blumenthal.

Locally, Stamford will receive over $2 million for three projects around the city:

• $50,000 for Saint Joseph Parenting Center in Stamford for services for families and children at risk of child abuse and neglect
• $250,000 for the city of Stamford to purchase training equipment for a Regional Police Academy
• $2 million for the city of Stamford to upgrade the network of inefficient, high-pressure sodium-based streetlights to energy-saving LEDs streetlights

"This was the year of getting things done for Connecticut, and I’m so proud that we are bringing home $236 million more for community-based projects in our state," Murphy said in a news release late last month. "This funding will help reduce gun violence in our communities, support small businesses and workforce development, improve water infrastructure, increase access to mental health services, and ensure the resiliency of our coastline communities. These investments are the result of thousands of conversations I’ve had with people across Connecticut, and they’re going to have a real positive impact on our communities."

Blumenthal called the specific grants "a fantastic new year win" for Connecticut.