Manchester Schools Awarded Public Utilities Grant

Manchester CT

28 April, 2022

11:20 AM

Description

HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Thursday awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to fund education and technology initiatives and to promote and improve public, educational and governmental programming across the state and Manchester's public school system was included. PURA on Wednesday issued a final decision (Docket No. 21-10-13) that awarded grants to97 recipients as part of the Public Educational and Governmental Programming andEducational Technology Investment Account (PEGPETIA). Recipients, receiving grantsranging from about $3,800 up to $44,000, include towns, cities, municipal and regionalschool districts, and public access studios, among others. Manchester schools will be getting $40,462. In total, the Authority received 99 requests for PEGPETIA funds during a three-monthapplication window ending Jan. 31, 2022. The amount requested from all applicantstotaled over $10 million, vastly exceeding the available funds and representing growinginterest in the program. "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our schools, municipalities and other communityorganizations continued to serve the public, including through the provision of public,educational and governmental programming that kept us all informed and connectedduring the unprecedented public health crisis," PURA Chairman Marissa P.Gillett said. "PURA is pleased to award these PEGPETIA grants totaling $2.6 million tosupport the continued development and enrichment of the state's public programmingand education technology initiatives." In 2007, the General Assembly established the PEGPETIA program through Public Act07-253. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-331, the Authority was directed to establisheligibility requirements and procedures for applying for PEGPETIA funds. A full list ofprogram goals, eligibility requirements, applicants and recipients can be found in thefinal decision.