The announcement was made at a press conference held today at Perry’s Green along Southport Harbor. In attendance were CPA Executive Director Evan Matthews, CPA Board Chair Scott Bates, CPA board members, including Fairfield resident Donald Frost, First Selectman Mike Tetreau, Fairfield’s Harbor Management Commission (HMC) Chair Jim Harman, HMC members including former HMC Chair Mary von Conta now a member of the Fairfield Parks and Recreation Commission, the Fairfield State Delegation, RTM members, Parks and Recreation Director Anthony Calabrese, Pequot Yacht Club General Manager Jeff Engborg and HMC consultant Geoff Steadman.
At the request of the Harbor Management Commission, $266,000 was awarded for dredging of the Town Boat Yard (Ye Yacht Yard) marina basin and completion of the reconstruction of the boat launching ramp with a town match of $11,000 for a total project cost of $277,000. The CPA also provided the Town with $6,500 to help update the Southport Harbor Management Plan with an equal match from the Town for a total project cost of $13,000. Both projects are scheduled for completion by the end of this year with dredging expected to begin this fall.
The projects are part of a statewide program to invest in the improvement of small harbors and inland waterways which is being led by the Connecticut Port Authority. The Southport Harbor projects are two of 18 similar SHIPP projects funded by CPA across the state this year.
“This is an important partnership between the Town of Fairfield and the Port Authority,” said Scott Bates, the Authority’s Board Chair. He continued, “Since our establishment as a stand-alone state agency, we have been making a special effort to fund projects like this based on the merits of each project. Projects like these help advance Connecticut's maritime economy, create jobs and enhance our quality of life."
About the Connecticut Port Authority:
The Connecticut Port Authority is a quasi-public agency to grow Connecticut’s economy and create jobs by strategically investing in the state’s three deep water ports and small harbors. For more information, please visit www.ctportauthority.com.
The photo shows (l:r): Parks and Recreation Director Anthony Calabrese, State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, State Representative Laura Devlin, State Representative Brenda Kupchick, State Senator Tony Hwang, First Selectman Mike Tetreau, CPA Board Chair Scott Bates, CPA Executive Director Evan Matthews, and HMC Chair Jim Harman.