FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2003

CONGRESSMAN LARSON AND MAYOR LARSON ANNOUNCE $3 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR EAST HARTFORD

EAST HARTFORD- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) and Mayor Timothy D. Larson today announced that the Town of East Hartford has been awarded a $3 million dollar federal grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund a lead-based paint hazard control program.

"This grant will help eliminate the serious danger that lead paint represents to a number of families in East Hartford, and will be especially effective in protecting children, who face the greatest risk," said Congressman Larson. "I am thrilled that this major funding has been awarded and applaud the Mayor and the town for their diligence in working to secure this grant."

"We are pleased to have been awarded this very competitive grant from HUD which will enable our Health and Social Services Department and Grants Office to work together to make our community safe from this environmental hazard," said Mayor Larson.

Mayor Larson and the Congressman worked closely with HUD to secure the grant for the town, and in June, Congressman Larson wrote a letter to David Jacobs, the Director of the Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control for HUD, outlining the specific need for the funding in East Hartford.

The program will provide funds to support a three-and-a-half year effort to address lead paint in 225 privately owned housing units in East Hartford. A number of activities will be conducted, including identifying children with elevated blood lead levels, educating the community about lead-based paint hazards, performing lead hazard control in housing units built prior to1978 and occupied by low income families, and ultimately, creating a lead-safe housing registry of properties where this hazard has been addressed.

The Congressman, Mayor and public health and grants officials from the Town of East Hartford will meet on Monday to discuss the administration and specifics of the grant.

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