Business owners: Have you ever wished you could direct some of the hard-earned money you pay in taxes each year to the State of Connecticut towards something that benefits your local Easton community? Believe it or not, you can!
The Neighborhood Assistance Act oversees the distribution of grants from businesses to qualifying municipalities and non-profit organizations. It gives businesses a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for every penny they give to an NAA-approved energy-related project.
In Easton, the NAA recently approved the Congregational Church’s 2024 application for $126,591 to complete lighting and window upgrades to the congregation’s 1795 Staples Free Academy building at the corner of Center and Westport Roads. Many of the windows in the original portion of the building likely date back to the late 1700s and are in dire need of repair or replacement.
Established in 1781 and built in 1795, the Staples Free Academy was founded by the early colonial philanthropist Samuel Staples. It allowed for a low-cost or free (depending on economic circumstance) secondary education for children from all over New England, both male and female (beginning in 1812). For over 100 years, it was the leading college preparatory school in the area, and the original structure still stands today.
Only the Governor Dummer Academy (Massachusetts), Phillips Academy (Massachusetts), and Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) pre-date the Staples Free Academy. Prestigious Staples Academy graduates include Connecticut Governor Isaac Toucy, Yale professor Arthur Wheeler, Redding Judge Samuel C. Shaw, and Easton native Judge Nehemiah Candee.
Samuel Staples was a religious man, so he mandated that the school be near the Congregational Church where he worshipped. Over the years, the Academy has served as a meeting house and seat of government for the town. Beginning in the early 1900s, after its closure as an academy, the building became one of the town’s first consolidated public schoolhouses. It remained in service until 1931, when the original Samuel Staples Elementary School was built on Morehouse Road.
In 1937, benefactors purchased the then-vacant Academy building. They transferred ownership to the Congregational Church for use as a church hall. Indoor plumbing was added, and a wing on the west side was built to house a kitchen for preparing and serving church dinners. A 1962 addition added a community hall and a much larger professional-grade kitchen.
Today, the building remains distinct from the church. It hosts many secular, non-religious events for the entire community’s benefit, including a weekly food bank and the Easton Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Next week, the building will host the first presentation of the Old Academy Lecture Series, an event co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Easton. The church attempts to use non-religious funds to maintain the upkeep of the building so that all may feel welcome when using the facilities.
Recognizing that it is the oldest standing public building in Easton, the congregation is seeking official state and federal historic designation for the Academy. In early September, the Academy building was approved for a 2024 Neighborhood Assistance Grant to upgrade the building’s electric lighting and failing windows. Replacement windows will be in keeping with the building’s historic character and design. The congregation is actively seeking corporate sponsors who will receive a 100% tax credit for their cash contributions towards these upgrades.
How it works:
Since the old Academy building has outdated and inefficient incandescent and fluorescent lighting and requires many new windows, both projects qualify as energy efficiency upgrades. The board has already consulted with contractors, obtained bids for the work, and selected the one that best suits the historic site and needs.
Companies looking to support local non-profits and green-energy opportunities, like the Staples Free Academy Project, must fill out the required online application (Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA-02) Form) informing the state that they are giving funds for this project. When filling out the form, the business selects the Congregational Church as the Organization, and the Congregational Church and Staples Academy Energy Efficiency Upgrades Project as the Program Title. Once the online form has been submitted and accepted, the business will simply send their contribution directly to the Congregational Church. The state will credit the contribution amount for the business as a tax credit.
Businesses that contribute funds directly to this Congregational Church project get a 100% tax credit for the amount given. In other words, the money they give to the church project is 100% off-set by the tax credit they receive from the state. Essentially, a participating business is paying the same money they would ordinarily pay in taxes. Still, they are directing some of the funds to the non-profit of their choice. What better way to feel good about paying taxes?
So, if you are a business owner, or know someone who is, there is a very short window of time to put your tax dollars to work to help the Congregational Church of Easton complete this very important restoration and renovation project on the old Academy building. Applications need to be completed and submitted online by October 1, 2024. For more information: 2024 NAA Approved Program Proposals.pdf (ct.gov)
Online application to receive tax credits: Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA-02) Form
The Historical Society of Easton works diligently to support the preservation and restoration of Easton’s historical buildings and institutions. By working together, we can all make a difference! Historical Society of Easton Connecticut – Archive Preservation and Research Center (historicalsocietyofeastonct.org)
