GPA Receives Grant for Interactive Information Kiosk
Selectman Carl Balestracci, GPA Board President Shirley Girioni, Governor Dan Malloy, Representative Patricia Widlitz
On May 30th, State Representative Patricia M. Widlitz (D-Guilford, Branford), a member of the State Bond Commission, announced that the Guilford Preservation Alliance is in line to receive a state grant of $60,000 from the Bond Commission to assist in the building of the new Interactive Information Kiosk. Widlitz stated that, “I strongly believe in this project and have been supportive of the efforts of the GPA and its partners in their efforts to develop heritage tourism in Guilford.”
In addition to the Bond Commission grant, the GPA is funding the project with a generous individual donation from the Schmitt family and a grant from Connecticut Humanities. Part of the cost of the project will be to develop the interactive virtual information center. Media Boom, a local web developer, will be retained to create the website that will allow visitors and residents to access information about cultural events, historic sites, and natural resources.
The Interactive Information Kiosk is the next step in a five year strategic development plan of the Heritage Tourism Initiative, which began three years ago with the award-winning Historic Guilford Walking Tours. The goal of the Heritage Tourism Initiative is to increase economic growth and development through tourism that highlights Guilford’s unique historic, cultural, and natural resources as well as supporting local businesses such as restaurants and shops. The idea for the kiosk came out of focus groups and workshops with local non-profits and businesses held over the last few years. The proposed building will serve as an information center to visitors and locals about activities, events, and businesses. It is hoped that Guilford’s story will be shared with a wider audience.
Russell Campaigne, of local firm CK Architects, has designed the Kiosk which will be located on town owned land adjacent to the Greene Community Center. It will be a modular unit of a design that complements the style of the Community Center, and will have an interactive computer. The Kiosk will be staffed by volunteers five days a week from May to September. Construction is slated for Fall 2015, and the project has gained approval from the appropriate town boards and agencies.
For further information visit www.guilfordpreservation.org
