HARTFORD — Three local projects received state grant funding recently.

Some $4.3 million total was awarded to nine regional councils of government and a regional economic district to assist towns and cities throughout the state in reducing costs and burdens by providing support for their efforts to regionalize services and coordinate essential functions of government.

The Northeastern CT Council of Governments received:

— Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Study, Phase II ($100,000): A study will be conducted to examine, in consultation with current service providers, alternatives to the current health care delivery system, and to make recommendations to enhance patient care.

— Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility ($708,500): This grant will provide funds to construct and operate an indoor regional household hazardous waste facility that will serve all 16 member towns.

— Enhanced Regional Animal Services Facility (Expansion and Code Compliance) ($608,000): These funds will be used to bring the regional animal care facility in compliance with state standards, add capacity, and improve animal welfare.

The grants are being aweparded under the state’s Regional Performance Incentive Program which is administered by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM).  

“In this new economic reality, it is crucial that we remain steadfast in our commitment to improve and streamline the way that government works at every level,” Governor Dannel Malloy said.  “These grants will encourage municipalities and regions to rethink the way they provide local services – resulting in more efficiencies and smaller costs for taxpayers.”

“Regionalization of services is not only cost-effective and economical, it is smart policy,” OPM Secretary Ben Barnes said.  “As we continue to make difficult decisions about funding services at the state level, we must support municipalities and regions that are coming together to coordinate and provide important services to residents while saving taxpayer dollars.”