State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Neglected Cemetery Account Grant Program

The grant program is closed and not accepting applications.

C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308b established the Neglected Cemetery Account and authorizes OPM to make grants to eligible municipalities for the purpose of municipal maintenance of neglected burial grounds and cemeteries, as described in C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308.  This program is funded from death certificate fees collected by the Department of Public Health, pursuant to C.G.S. §7-74(b)(2). 

Pursuant to C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308(a) a “neglected cemetery” is:

  • a burial ground or cemetery containing more than six places of interment;
  • a burial ground or cemetery that has been neglected and allowed to grow up to weeds, briars and bushes, or about which the fences have become broken, decayed or dilapidated.

Allowable Use of Grant Funds: 

In accordance with C.G.S. Sec. 19a-308(a), only expenditures for the following four types of work can be reimbursed with Neglected Cemetery Account Grant funds:

  • Clearing of weeds, briars and bushes;
  • Mowing of the ground's lawn areas;
  • Repairing of the ground’s fences or walls; and
  • Straightening, repair or restoration of memorial stones.

Eligibility:

  • The state reserves the right to not award new grant funds from this program to those municipalities that have unexpended grant funds from a previously awarded Neglected Cemetery Account grant.
  • Additionally, pursuant to C.G.S. Sec. 8-23, as amended by P.A. 15-95, eligible municipalities will be those that have adopted a plan of conservation and development (POCD) within the past ten years.  Municipalities that have not adopted a POCD within the past ten years may be eligible for funding if compliant with C.G.S. Sec. 8-23(a)(2) and C.G.S. 8-23(b). See program guidelines for full details.
Guidelines and Information: 
  2023 Grant Guidelines

  CT General Statutes Chapter 368j Cemeteries 

  Historic Cemeteries and Gravestone Protection - CT DECD and SHPO 

 

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Grant Awards:

For those who have successfully submitted all required contract documents and have received a copy of their fully executed (signed by both grantee and OPM) Notice of Grant Award Contract, click the link below for instructions on how to request a reimbursement.

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT

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CONTACTS:

For questions related to required contract submissions, contact Debra.McCarthy@ct.gov, 860.418.6297.

For programmatic questions, contact Martin.Heft@ct.gov, 860.418.6377