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NORWALK, Conn. The State Bond Commission is expected to approve a $125,000 grant-in-aid to the city of Norwalk for alterations and improvements to facilities and major exhibits at the Maritime Aquarium, according to state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk.
The grant will become official after the State Bond Commission meets at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. "Improving the aquarium means improving our local and state economies, since this is one of the largest attractions in the region," Duff said in a statement. "It also means recommitting ourselves to the protection of Long Island Sound and strengthening what has become a vital educational institution for both children and adults."
Aquarium CEO Jennifer Herring in a statement said, "We are thrilled that there is $125,000 on Friday's Bond Commission agenda for us. We plan to use the grant for infrastructure projects, the most urgent of which is replacing the roof on our main building."
The aquarium's mission is to inspire people of all ages to appreciate the Sound and to protect it for future generations. It achieves this goal through living exhibits, marine science and environmental education.
What was then called the Maritime Center at Norwalk opened in July 1988. Eight years later, it changed its name to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. According to a March 2003 study, the aquarium's annual economic impact on Norwalk is $20.3 million. Statewide, the aquarium's economic impact is $41.8 million. The dollar figures include visitor spending, jobs in the aquarium, jobs created outside the aquarium by its tourist trade, taxes paid by visitors and employees, and other spending.
Annual attendance at the aquarium averages more than 500,000 visitors, making it one of the largest attractions in Connecticut and the largest attraction in Connecticut within 100 miles of New York City.
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