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$600,000 In Federal Funds Awarded As Part Of Hartford's Arts And Heritage Job Grants Program

Frank Rizzo

April 27, 2010

More than 30 individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations will receive a total of $600,000 in federal funds from the second phase of the Arts and Heritage Job Grants Program run by the city of Hartford, it was announced Monday.

Mayor Eddie A. Perez proposed a city-federal arts and heritage stimulus package last year that used $1 million in city funds for arts/heritage job grants as well as expected funds from the federal stimulus package, in the form of Community Development Block Grants, when the money became available.

The grants can be used for anything from wages to paying rent or utility bills.

The city funds were granted last year and 29 jobs were retained; 185 "job opportunities" were created (full-time, part-time and temporary). A total of 80 youth positions were also created.

A total of 62 letters of application came in for the federal funds with proposals that doubled the amount available.

Both phases of the program were administered by the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

"This city has a viable arts community and this sector is very important in our overall strategy to retain and grow jobs and to keep the economy going," Perez said.

"This is for the short term but also the long term as the economy improves. This is not just for the downtown area but throughout the city in its neighborhoods as well."