Federal COVID dollars will help New London sparkle this holiday season

New London ― It turns out there's very few things federal pandemic funding can't be used for.The City Council on Monday approved using up to $14,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to boost the Cultural District Commission's holiday decoration budget, part of an ongoing plan to overlay a little more "magic and sparkle" onto the downtown area, commission Chairman Rich Martin said."Without this money, we wouldn't have the funding to add many new decorations," he said. "The idea is to add some pizzazz to the city during what can be a very dark period, attract people here and, hopefully, have some of them open up their wallets."The commission has reached out to two companies specializing in exterior holiday cheer ― Holiday Outdoor Décor in Pennsylvania and New York-based Downtown Decorations ― as part of a plan to get the best products at the most reasonable prices, Martin said."And we need to make sure we're not ordering something that's not going to be delivered until March," he said.Both companies submitted invoices laying out exactly what the commission could get for $14,000.Holiday Outdoor promises to provide two 13-foot illuminated garland strands ($1,635), two 3-foot round aluminum spheres dotted with "twinkling" lights ($2,742), six 48-inch pine wreaths ($3,466) and an "intricate winterfest skyline" decoration ($4,189) for $13,609, with a shipping price of $1,575.Downtown Decorations is ready to send out two 4-foot LED wreaths with bows ($1,734), 14 pole decorations ($8,470) and a glowing street star ($2,475). That $12,679 price tag doesn't include another $1,310 for shipping.At least some of the new lights and decorations are expected to illuminate the downtown plaza and municipal parking lot, supplementing the over-sized ornaments and other decorations already tucked away in commission's holiday inventory."We really didn't have a lot besides garland," Martin said. "We plan on working with local businesses on creating a window decoration program and we'll have the big downtown tree lighting the weekend of Thanksgiving, along with other events."The New London Cultural District was created in 2022 by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Such districts are pedestrian-friendly areas of a municipality that promote artists, businesses and local culture, while also driving economic growth and tourism. Towns or cities must form a commission to manage such districts and the designation means Martin and his group can apply for previously unavailable state grants and sponsorships."We're trying to add a few new decorations every year," he said. "This ARPA money is helping us jump-start that work."The commission last year used ARPA funding to refurbish the Wyland mural on Eugene O'Neill Drive and to expand the city's Black Heritage Trail path. Mayor Michael Passero said a city's tourism numbers can be directly linked to its level of festiveness, pointing to the thousands of visitors that flock to the Olde Mistick Village shopping center whenever the venue dons its holiday apparel."People go out driving in neighborhoods to see the best holiday lights and its the same for a downtown," he said. j.penney@theday.com