Rep. Bronko Applauds Grant For Naugatuck Farm

HARTFORD – Rep. Seth Bronko, R-Naugatuck, applauded the announcement Tuesday that a local farm that supplies produce to Naugatuck Public Schools has been awarded a more than $4,000 grant for improvements to their operation.

The Sunset Farm on Andrew Mountain Road in Naugatuck was awarded a $4,355 state grant to create a covered wash station, complete with sinks, sprayers, tanks, and water heater to improve food safety and facilitate increased produce sales to local public schools.

The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant was one of 32 awarded by the Department of Agriculture and was part of a second round of grants that were awarded to help establish and further fund farm-to-school initiatives in Connecticut. Launched in 2018, the farm operated by Kaitlyn Kimball and Lawrence Passeck cultivated 1.5 acres to create the farm for vegetable and flower production, according to its website.

The grants are meant to increase the “availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state’s economy,” according to the Department of Agriculture.

“Grants such as these are worthwhile investments in Connecticut’s agriculture, which not only supplies our local schools with fresh produce for a healthy lifestyle, but bolsters our local economy,” Rep. Bronko said.

Rep. Bronko can be contacted at Seth.Bronko@housegop.ct.gov or (800) 842-1423 with any questions or concerns related to state government. You can also follow his legislative activity by visiting his website, www.cthousegop.com/Bronko or on Facebook.