Gov. Ned Lamont is releasing $24.6 million in state funding to help local communities with the costs of remediating 41 blighted properties throughout Connecticut.

The properties have been vacant for decades.

The properties are located across 16 towns and cities, with the purpose of putting them back into productive use.

"Cleaning up blighted properties that have been vacant for decades and putting them into productive use will ultimately generate private investment equal to many times these state grants," Lamont said. "If we remediate these properties now, we can turn an eyesore into an asset, revitalize neighborhoods, and transform otherwise unusable property into new space for businesses and residents."