Governor Ned Lamont has announced $20 million in state grants to clean up 21 blighted properties across 18 Connecticut towns. The funds, distributed through the Department of Economic and Community Development, aim to redevelop 150 acres of contaminated land into housing and business spaces. The projects are expected to generate $530 million in private investment, create 1,392 new housing units, and boost local economies. In Newtown, a $610,000 grant will cover costs of a hazardous materials abatement of a site at the former Fairfield Hills Campus. When completed, the buildings, which have been vacant since 1995, will house the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department and be leased for commercial use.