Help Branford Win Some Funds for Fireworks!

Local governments struggling to balance budgets may find it hard to fund 4th of July celebrations so Liberty Mutual Insurance is sponsoring a contest through which it will award $10,000 grants to support municipal Fourth of July parades, fireworks, and ceremonies .

would like your support in helping to keep Branford Fireworks great. You can partcipate in the Liberty Mutal "Bring Back the 4th" contest. All you  have to do is take a brief "Responsible Moments in U.S. History" quiz, which includes questions about people who helped shape the nation and inspire others. Each completed quiz counts as one credit for Branford. The municipalities with the most quizzes completed on their behalf will be eligible to win grants. The contest closes June 14 and 10 winners will be announced the week of June 20.

While Branford's Fireworks will not be affected this year, the did approve a measure to move about $30,000 out of the overtime budget for public celebration for the 2011-12 fiscal year and place the funds in contingency. This effort is cost-saving for the town, but could affect the annual fireworks.

Grants will be awarded to cities and towns in three categories:

• Small cities/towns - Up to 15,000 residents (four grants)
• Medium cities/towns - 15,001-100,000 residents (three grants)
• Large cities/towns - 100,001 residents and over (three grants)

Learn more at www.BringBackThe4th.com