Latest News - Gerratana Announces Approval of Grant for New Britain’s Innovation Places Project

Gerratana Announces Approval of Grant for New Britain’s Innovation Places Project

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Webmaster

Gerratana Announces Approval of Grant for New Britain’s Innovation Places Project

Grant to provide for development of plan to encourage entrepreneurship in New Britain

New Britain’s plans for jump-starting the local innovation economy will move forward as the result of a grant announced today by Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain). The CTNext Program has awarded a $40,000 grant to establish a plan for the development of New Britain’s “Innovation Places.”

These Innovation Places will serve as communities where young entrepreneurs can begin a business in an affordable location with co-working opportunities and nearby assets needed for growth. Locations like these are being created around Connecticut as the result of a comprehensive law supported by Senator Gerratana to help Connecticut embrace the innovation economy.

“New Britain and the surrounding communities have all the ingredients necessary to build an ecosystem of innovation,” said Senator Gerratana. “All the 6th District town of New Britain, Berlin and Farmington have collaborated to develop a strategy for increasing innovation. These towns have the brilliant students and faculty at CCSU, a great business community, the proximity of the Jackson Laboratory, and accessibility to nearby communities with CTFastrak. By combining these assets and establishing “Innovation Places” in our city, we can generate new job growth, business startups, and a truly exciting economic future. This grant is an important first step toward expanding entrepreneurship and innovation in New Britain, and I will continue working to ensure that our city becomes a hub of innovation in Connecticut.”

Under this new economic development plan, Innovation Places will be concentrated areas where entrepreneurs and innovators have easy access to tech talent, support organizations and research institutions. These dense areas are intended to be highly walkable, transit-connected, and mixed-use in zoning to facilitate interactions among entrepreneurs and innovators across different organizations, and to be conducive to the creation of startup companies. This environment is intended to be attractive not only for entrepreneurs to work in, but also to live in and for recreation, to help the community retain the most in-demand workers.

This $40,000 grant will be used in the development of a strategic planning process to identify local conditions and build a master plan that identifies the resources and assets in each community (like a hospital, a university, a research firm, or a manufacturer) to create exciting new business opportunities. The program was designed to be publicly supported and privately led, with communities leveraging public funding to generate a larger amount of private investment and business growth.

Fonfara Announces Approval of Grant for Hartford’s Innovation Places Project

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Webmaster

Fonfara Announces Approval of Grant for Hartford’s Innovation Places Project

Grant to provide for development of plan to encourage entrepreneurship in Hartford

Hartford’s plans for jump-starting the local innovation economy will move forward as the result of a grant announced today by Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford). The CTNext Program has awarded a $50,000 grant, the maximum amount offered, to jump-start the development of Hartford’s “Innovation Places.”

These Innovation Places will serve as communities where young entrepreneurs can begin a business in an affordable location with co-working opportunities and nearby assets needed for growth. Locations like these are being created around Connecticut as the result of a comprehensive law designed by Senator Fonfara to help Connecticut embrace the innovation economy.

“I believe that our economic future is in embracing the innovation economy, which Hartford has already begun to do,” said Senator Fonfara. “Local officials, business leaders and educators have come together, some for the first time, to begin the process of creating ‘Innovation Places’ in Hartford. This grant will allow us to move forward toward a goal of connecting Connecticut’s bright, young minds with experienced entrepreneurs who will help them turn innovative ideas into new, growing businesses. Startup companies like these generate more jobs and economic growth than large businesses. That’s what we need here in Hartford and throughout our state and these grants will help get us there.”

“It has been a pleasure to engage a truly diverse group of stakeholders in this effort so far. We have benefitted from institutional leadership from the University of Hartford, Trinity College, and the University of Connecticut, as well as Hartford Hospital, Metro Hartford Alliance, reSET, and the City of Hartford and Town of East Hartford. A number of the region’s established and emerging entrepreneurs have also been actively involved, which will be key to our ability to continue to make progress. Our team also looks forward to engaging other key stakeholders over the next four months. This program presents an incredible opportunity for Hartford and the region to gain traction as a logical place for innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive,” said Michelle Cote, Managing Director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University Of Connecticut School Of Business.

This $50,000 grant will be used in the development of a strategic planning process to identify local conditions and build a master plan that identifies the resources and assets in each community (like a hospital, a university, a research firm, or a manufacturer) to create exciting new business opportunities. The program was designed to be publicly supported and privately led, with communities leveraging public funding to generate a larger amount of private investment and business growth.

CTNext Awards Planning Grant to Northeastern Connecticut Innovation Places Project

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Webmaster

CTNext Awards Planning Grant to Northeastern Connecticut Innovation Places Project

Northeastern Connecticut’s plans for reinvigorating the local innovation economy will move forward as the result of a grant announced today by The CTNext Program. The Northeast Innovation Hub has been awarded a $50,000 grant, the maximum amount offered, to jump-start the development of Northeast Connecticut’s “innovation places.”

Senator Mae Flexer led passage of the innovation economy law passed this year, which includes the creation of “Innovation Places.”

“This grant is a significant first step toward implementing a plan that will combine the expertise of northeastern Connecticut’s entrepreneur community, the close proximity of UConn, Eastern and QVCC and communities that are eager to innovate,” said Senator Flexer. “Over the past several months I have convened local officials, educators, business owners and entrepreneurs to design a plan to capitalize on the economic potential in our region. We will be putting some of Connecticut’s brightest young minds in touch with experienced businesspeople, and giving them an environment where they can put their ideas into practice. New, growing small and medium sized businesses create jobs and economic activity at a far faster rate than larger companies. That is the kind of growth we need in Connecticut, and we’re going to make sure it happens right here in northeastern Connecticut.”

Putnam’s Economic and Community Development Director Delpha Very said she was “elated” to learn that northeastern Connecticut’s proposal was chosen by CTNext to receive the planning grant.

“I think we all have to thank Sen. Flexer for bringing this opportunity to the forefront and working behind the scenes while this legislation was being written to make sure that our state’s new economic development initiative could be accessible to any part of the state, including rural communities like ours,” said Very. “The fact that this planning grant was awarded to a rural community is especially important, and the beneficiaries of this truly regional concept are our business community, educational resources and neighborhoods. I think that changing the paradigm about how Connecticut does business and really focusing on entrepreneurship and innovators is not only a different concept, but it allows people who are not in the ‘business mainstream’ to shine and showcases opportunities that we are not used to.”
“I think it’s a great recognition of the fact that our area has an unbelievable and underappreciated collection of industries that employ a lot of people in high-technology jobs and require a skilled workforce. These industries have tremendous potential for growth. Our towns need to start recognizing this fact and treat the area like a truly unified region by connecting businesses, the workforce, education, and the improvements of our historic urban centers like Putnam, Danielson and Willimantic that have historically attracted lots of activity and can do so again. This grant is the opportunity to have that conversation so that people inside and outside of the region really see us as a unified place,” said John Guszkowski, the Director of Planning for CME Associates, who took the lead on writing the grant application.

“It’s also interesting to point out that, geographically, the Putnam-Killingly-Mansfield-Willimantic quadrangle is basically the same size as North Carolina’s ‘Research Triangle’ and we think of that as a single place and a place of innovation. We have an incredible advantage with UConn as our anchor institution of higher education, which will be the engine driving this. There’s no reason we can’t take advantage of the natural assets and educational institutions we have here and eventually rise to that same level of innovation and economic success,” Guszkowski added.

“I’m happy that everyone’s hard work, led by Sen. Flexer, came to fruition. Every economic development director in the area helped out on this and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be working on a new program in northeastern Connecticut that’s working with QVCC and UConn to help create jobs,” said state Representative Danny Rovero (D-Killingly). “As I’ve always said—‘what we need is jobs, jobs, jobs’ and this will help to create those jobs. I am proud that so many people from our region came together to make this happen.”

“I am so incredibly happy and excited about the fact that we were awarded the grant, and I thank Sen. Flexer so much for her hard work and for bringing everyone together in the region to truly become a community that is working together to expand our local economy,” said state Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham).

“Sen. Flexer took the lead to make sure all of the right people from eastern Connecticut were at the table as this grant application was being put together,” said state Representative Gregg Haddad (D-Mansfield). “Because of her leadership, our region of the state will have the resources to build an environment that will create jobs through innovation and encourage entrepreneurship. I was pleased to help our team in this important designation.”

“This is another positive step toward increasing economic development opportunities in northeastern Connecticut. There are a number of successes we can build upon to support new and existing businesses and create jobs,” said state Representative Christine Rosati-Randall (D-Killingly). “This planning grant will allow us to build upon what we already do well here in in this region, and that is share resources. This collaborative effort, led by Sen. Flexer, will bring together our business community, schools, colleges and entrepreneurs to create the Northeast Innovation Hub which will infuse new vitality in our area’s economy. When we work together, we can get things done.”

Flexer, Johnson and Orange Laud $7 Million in State Funding for Willimantic’s “Hurley Building,” Eastman Curran Terrace

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Webmaster

Flexer, Johnson & Orange Laud $7 Million in State Funding for Willimantic’s “Hurley Building,” Eastman Curran Terrace

Willimantic, CT—State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson), state Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham), and state Senator Linda Orange (D-Colchester, Windham) lauded the recent news that two affordable housing developments in Willimantic have been awarded more than $7 million in state funding through the state Department of Housing (DOH) and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).

The announcement was made by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein, and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Karl F. Kilduff Tuesday.

The Northeastern Connecticut Development Corporation, Inc. (NCCDC) has been awarded up to $2,570,000 through the Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) Program to assist in the renovation of the historic “Murray Building”—more commonly referred to as the “Hurley Building”—at 699 Main Street in Willimantic, a project that Sen. Flexer has advocated strongly for.

Additionally, the Marcella Eastman Curran Terrace rental development on Memorial Drive in Willimantic has been awarded $4,867,000 in funding through the State Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP) Revitalization Initiative.

“This is an extraordinary investment in Windham. Renovation of the ‘Hurley Building’ is one of the most critical pieces of Willimantic’s revitalization, and will provide vital affordable housing at the heart of downtown while jumpstarting additional redevelopment,” said Sen. Flexer. “The funding for the renovation of the Marcella Eastman property is also crucial to ensuring our residents have access to safe affordable housing. This is truly great news for Willimantic, and I am thankful to Commissioner Klein for recognizing the importance of these investments to our community.”

“This is wonderful news for Windham, both in terms of continuing the momentum of downtown Willimantic’s revitalization, and for safe, affordable housing for our residents,” said Rep. Johnson. “These are projects that our local officials and community leaders have said are imperative, and I am pleased that our delegation has been able to secure this investment for these extremely worthy projects in Windham.”

“This is great news for people seeking a quality, affordable place to call home,” said Rep. Orange. “This is an incredible investment by the state in Windham.”

“Senator Flexer and Representative Johnson have been instrumental in securing this funding, and I am thankful for their steadfast support of this project and for advocating on our behalf to the Commissioner of the Department of Housing,” said Rheo Brouillard, President of the NCCDC. “Clearly the Murray House is an important building as you enter downtown Willimantic from the east and is a landmark, both historically and due to its location. This infusion of state funding is acknowledging once again the work that Mayor Eldridge, the Town Council and everyone else involved has been doing, especially Senator Flexer, to secure the funding necessary to complete this project and continue revitalizing Main Street.”

About the projects:

Under the CHAMP 9 Award: The DOH will provide up to $2,570,000 to the Northeastern Connecticut Development Corporation, Inc. (NCCDC) to assist in the rehabilitation of the historic Murray Building on Main Street in Willimantic (commonly called the “Hurley Building”). This historic rehabilitation will create 20 apartments as well as ground floor retail space in Willimantic’s walkable downtown. Seventeen of the 20 units will be reserved as affordable housing. The Murray Building was built by Hugh Clark Murray to house his “Boston Store” in 1894. Later, the building was the longtime home of Hurley’s’ Men’s Shop. 699 Main Street’s rehabilitation will also be supported by The Savings Institute, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and State Historic Preservation Tax Credits which are administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Hugh Clark Murray served for many years as president of the Willimantic Savings Institute, whose successor bank is now funding the rebirth of this property.

Under the 2016 SSHP Award: Marcella Eastman Curran Terrace is a moderate rental development consisting of 78 family units within 44 individual buildings. DOH will provide approximately $4,867,000 to the Housing Authority of the City of Willimantic to make improvements to the building exterior envelopes, including roofing, siding, windows and site work along with unit interior renovations to create handicapped accessible units. This project leverages $161,000 in energy rebates.

Norwalk Land Trust Recognizes Senate Majority Leader Duff for his Environmental Advocacy

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Webmaster

Norwalk Land Trust Recognizes Senate Majority Leader Duff for his Environmental Advocacy

Pictured above (L-R): D. Seeley Hubbard, past President of the Norwalk Land Trust; Vickie Bennett, board member of the Norwalk Land Trust; Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk); John Moeling, President, Norwalk Land Trust.

Norwalk, CT—Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) was recognized today by the Norwalk Land Trust for his role ushering through the Senate important legislation safeguarding Connecticut’s open space, air and water. Members of the Land Trust presented him with a citation at Fodor Farm in Norwalk.

“The Norwalk Land Trust has done a phenomenal job of protecting open space in Norwalk,” said Senator Duff. “Protecting 90 acres of open space in a geographically small, dense city helps preserve Norwalk’s character, and their work on behalf of our environment will be felt for generations. I am proud to have been recognized by this exceptional organization.”

“Bob has been an Advisory Board Member of the Norwalk Land Trust for over ten years,” said John Moeling, President, Norwalk Land Trust. “He has helped us acquire and protect the White Barn Nature Preserve, the Farm Creek Nature Preserve and others, and is working with us now to complete a Wildlife Sanctuary on our Hoyt Island property in Long Island Sound. Bob knows we need natural open space in the midst of our lives and our work and deserves the recognition the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has accorded him.”

This year, Senator Duff was named a “2016 Legislative Champion” by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. Additionally, Senator Duff received a perfect “100 percent” score from the organization on its 2016 Environmental Scorecard, which rates Connecticut’s state legislators by the votes they have cast on key environmental bills.

In 2015, Senator Duff led passage of legislation that prevented taxpayer-purchased open space from being used to fulfill the open space percentage allocation required for cluster developments. Previously, Senator Duff has been recognized as a “Clean Energy Champion” by the New England Clean Energy Council for his leadership on clean energy policy.

The mission of the Norwalk Land Trust is to balance nature and development by acquiring land and preserving it in its natural state for the benefit of Norwalk residents and future generations.

The Land Trust is currently steward of 28 parcels of open space, owning 65 acres and holding 25 acres via conservation easements.

Osten Announces $48,000 Awarded to Ledyard, Marlborough Libraries for High-Speed Internet

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Webmaster

Osten Announces $48,000 Awarded to Ledyard, Marlborough Libraries for High-Speed Internet

Richmond Memorial Library Director Nancy Wood and Sen. Cathy Osten welcome news of high-speed internet grant.

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) recently announced that the State Library Board has awarded more than $40,000 to two local libraries for high-speed fiber connections to the Connecticut Education Network.

The Ledyard Public Library was awarded $18,700 in grant funding, and the Richmond Memorial Library in Marlborough was awarded a $22,100 grant.

“Our libraries are transforming their services to meet the requirements of the digital age, and having access to high-speed internet is critical for these centers of knowledge in our community,” said Sen. Osten. “Keeping up with technology is essential for our libraries, which are committed to offering services and programs that residents rely on. Whether it’s a student working on a research project after school, a person using the library’s computers to apply for jobs online, or residents who want to take advantage of the great resources our libraries offer for learning or relaxation—reliable high-speed internet is a must and I am extremely happy that our libraries have been chosen to participate in this program.”

Ledyard’s Bill Library and Marlborough’s Richmond Memorial are two of the first public libraries in the state to receive a grant under this program. It’s expected that the connection will be completed in 2017.

“The Richmond Memorial Library is thrilled to have been chosen to receive more than $22,000 in funding to build a fiber connection to our library through the Connecticut Education Network,” said Library Director Nancy Wood. “This opportunity offered to us by a grant from the Connecticut State Library with approval by the Connecticut Legislature will finally offer our citizens free, high-speed internet access through their local library. I have waited years for this to happen, and finally, high-speed internet will come to Richmond and all its many customers.”

“This is extremely good news. The fiber installation will be very helpful to our library and residents,” said Ledyard Public Library Director Gale Bradbury, who noted the current DSL internet at the Bill location is so slow it had to be supplemented with cable internet, and computers are still prone to ‘slowdowns.’

“Computer usage is absolutely one of the highest uses at our library, and we have a regular contingent of residents who come into use our services daily. We are really looking forward to this upgrade,” Bradbury said.

In addition to support from the Federal Schools and Libraries E-Rate program, the grants will cover all costs of installation of the fiber connection.

In a joint letter announcing the local funding, State Library Board Chairman John N. Barry and State Librarian Kendall F. Wiggin wrote that “Public Libraries serve as critical gateways to information outside of one’s own community, and in the Information Age this role has become even more important. Libraries give people without home computers free access to the internet, helping residents close the digital divide. As reliance upon public libraries to provide broadband telecommunications services for their community increases, it becomes essential to have universal high-speed connectivity in libraries across the state.”

In 2015, the General Assembly appropriated $3.6 million for Grants-in-Aid for high-speed connections to the Connecticut Education Network. On May 27, 2016, the State Bond Commission approved an allocation and bond authorization to the State Library that will fund high-speed internet connections for more than 90 libraries in the state.

Statement from Senate Leadership on Teamsters Union Vote

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Webmaster

Statement from Senate Leadership on Teamsters Union Vote

Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today released the following statements following a 2,104 to 140 vote by members of Teamsters Local 1150 that will pave the way for a new generation of helicopters to be built at Sikorsky’s Stratford facility:

“Lockheed Martin’s decision to build the King Stallion helicopter at Sikorsky’s facility in Connecticut is a significant victory for the eight thousand workers at Sikorsky and our state’s economy,” said Senator Looney. “I want to thank the members of Teamsters Local 1150 for overwhelmingly approving the proposal that will benefit hundreds of suppliers throughout the Connecticut and keeping good-paying jobs here for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s graduates. Connecticut is at its best when private industry, labor and government all work together to grow our economy for sustainable future.”

“The members of Teamsters Local 1150 voted to keep good-paying, high-skilled jobs in Connecticut for today, tomorrow and over the next generation,” said Senator Duff. “Connecticut is making smart investments to create jobs and grow our economy. The economic impact of this project will create and sustain thousands of jobs in the manufacturing supply chain across all corners of the state for years to come.”

Leone and Duff Praise Henkel Corporation’s Relocation of 266 Jobs to Stamford From Arizona

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Webmaster

Leone & Duff Praise Henkel Corporation’s Relocation of 266 Jobs to Stamford From Arizona

Senator Carlo Leone (D-Stamford) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today released the following statements praising the Henkel Corporation’s decision to relocate its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care headquarters across the country from Arizona to Stamford, Connecticut. The company plans on expanding in a $50 million project that will create up to 266 new jobs in the state.

“This is more great economic news for our state, and particularly for Stamford, which will greatly benefit from the millions of dollars that Henkel plans to invest, and the hundreds of good-paying jobs it will create here,” said Senator Leone. “Henkel’s decision to relocate its corporate headquarters to Connecticut is one of several recent examples of the positive direction our state economy is going in. Just last week I voted for an agreement that will keep Sikorsky in Connecticut where they will grow and create new jobs. Pratt and Whitney and Electric Boat have also announced their intention to each create thousands of new jobs in Connecticut. Henkel is just the latest piece of good news showing that Connecticut’s economy is moving toward a much stronger future.”

“This is good news for Fairfield County and it is good news for Connecticut,” said Senator Duff. “Businesses large and small are choosing to invest in Connecticut. Connecticut is an innovative state that offers a quality of life that is second-to-none, and boasts a highly skilled and educated workforce. Our work continues, though it is clear that the investments made by the General Assembly are helping attract businesses and are growing jobs.”

A number of recent studies have ranked Connecticut as a good place live, work and raise a family:

Bloomberg named Connecticut in 2016 as the 5th most innovative state in the nation. In the January 2016 Bloomberg Innovation Index, states were ranked across six equally weighted metrics: R&D intensity; productivity; high-tech density; concentration of science; technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) employment; science and engineering degree holders; and patent activity. Connecticut ranked 5th amongst all the states, behind only Massachusetts, California, Washington and New Jersey.
Connecticut is the 5th best state for women to work in. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington, D.C., in their Status of Women in the States: 2015 Employment and Earnings report, Connecticut is the 5th best state in the nation for women with regard to their careers. The study measured earnings, equality and percentage of women in supervisory or managerial positions.
Connecticut is the 3rd best state in the nation for working moms. This WalletHub report from 2016, 2016’s Best and Worst States for Working Moms, measured 1) professional opportunities, 2) quality of child care and 3) work-life balance.
Because of all of these economic strengths, WalletHub announced on June 6, 2016 its finding that Connecticut has the 14th best state economy in the nation. This recent WalletHub report, 2016’s States with the Best & Worst Economies, measured all 50 states in three metrics, 1) “Economic Activity Rank”, 2) “Economic Health Rank”, and 3) “Innovation Potential Rank”. Connecticut came in 8th overall in Innovation Potential, 15th in Economic Activity, and 33rd in Economic Health, for a ranking of 14th best overall.

Henkel offers beauty and personal care, laundry and home care, and a broad portfolio of adhesives, sealants, and surface treatments for consumer and industrial use. Earlier this year, the company announced the acquisition of the Wilton-based The Sun Products Corporation, a leading manufacturer and marketer of laundry care products. With the acquisition of Sun Products, Henkel is now the number two laundry and home care products company in North America.

Henkel plans on relocating its Scottsdale, Arizona operations, which currently serves as Henkel’s Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care headquarters, to Stamford, in a location yet to be determined. The relocation is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2017.

As part of the project, Henkel is committed to retaining the combined jobs from its former Sun Products facilities, as well as its North American headquarters and Adhesive Technologies General Industries division in Rocky Hill. Henkel has offered relocation services to its employees in Arizona.

Osten Leads Southeastern Connecticut/Western Rhode Island Discussion on Regional Economic Development Efforts

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Webmaster

Osten Leads Southeastern Connecticut/Western Rhode Island Discussion on Regional Economic Development Efforts

Senator Osten and stakeholders convene for second meeting focused on collaboration to support region’s economy and workforce.

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) recently convened the second in a series of regional economic development roundtables to discuss how elected officials, organizations, colleges and employers can collaborate across the Connecticut-Rhode Island state line to support the region’s intertwined economy and workforce.

The second meeting—which included members of Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere’s staff, local Chambers of Commerce, town officials, Electric Boat, Dominion, and casino officials, among other partners—was held at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island. The group of stakeholders is working to determine cooperative legislative priorities to introduce in each state’s upcoming legislative session.

The working group’s discussion focused largely on effectively marketing advanced manufacturing technology programs at community colleges in both states, in order to prepare workers for the more than 25,000 high-skilled manufacturing and defense industry jobs that will come online in Connecticut in the next several years through Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin and businesses throughout the supply chain; examining how guidance counselors and schools are promoting certificate programs to students as a viable option toward a career outside of a traditional four-year college degree; and addressing quality of life in the region to retain military families, veterans and young professionals.

“These summits have allowed us to identify our shared assets and needs, with input from local officials, the business community, our large employers and our community colleges, and others,” said Sen. Osten. “Moving forward, we plan to develop three key points that we can focus on in terms of legislation, with a goal of submitting parallel legislation in each state. We want to ensure we are working together—and not competing with each other—to advance our goals for what is truly a shared economy.”

Howard Jenkins, Manager of Human Resources—Diversity and Outreach at General Dynamics Electric Boat located in Groton, noted that a concerted effort must be made to change the way parents of middle and high school students think about the manufacturing field, and how those careers have changed in the 21st century.

“We need to get them excited about this,” said Jenkins. “Not everyone will be going to college. Statistics identify that 35 percent of kids enroll in college, and 60 percent of them don’t finish. Essentially, that means that 70 percent of our youth aren’t going to college or graduating with a degree. We need to get them an advanced certificate or training in manufacturing, because we have a huge advantage when it comes to the training that’s available locally at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich and Quinebaug Valley in Danielson, and due to the number of jobs that will need to be filled in the region over time.”

John Beauregard, President of the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), agreed that focusing on connecting students with programs that prepare them for good paying jobs in the manufacturing and defense sector is key.

“The ‘25,000 jobs’ number is real. Getting young people interested in this field is important, but what is equally important is recognizing opportunities to build our pool of skilled labor,” said Beauregard. “For example, look at all of the people who are under-employed in their 20s. They are working part-time, but fixing motorcycles on the weekend. They are good with their hands. We need to get them on the path where they are reaching their maximum potential in the workforce.”

Near the end of the Quonset Point meeting, Paige Bronk, the Manager of Economic and Community Development for the Town of Groton—who previously served in the same position in North Kingstown, Rhode Island—endorsed the efforts of Sen. Osten and other stakeholders to break down what many around the table called the “invisible border” between Connecticut and Rhode Island.

“I am glad that we are working together, and it’s imperative that we stay together on this front,” said Bronk, who lives in Rhode Island and works in Connecticut. “I think breaking down the imaginary line between our two states, especially on the coast, is imperative to our synergy as a region.”

Duff Announces Major State Investment in Norwalk Housing

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Webmaster

Duff Announces Major State Investment in Norwalk Housing

Funds will be used to rehabilitate and improve The Marvin and Ludlow Commons

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff visited with residents at The Marvin to share the news that nearly $7 million has been awarded to revitalize several of Norwalk’s congregate housing buildings, including theirs.

Norwalk, CT—Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) has announced that $7 million has been awarded that will be used revitalize several of Norwalk’s affordable housing buildings. These buildings provide housing opportunities for dozens seniors and families in Norwalk. This funding will be used to make needed repairs and upgrades.

“Helping people get a roof over their head allows them to become more invested in our community, find jobs in the city, and contribute to our local economy,” said Senator Duff. “These grants will help ensure that the housing opportunities in Norwalk remain available, safe, and attractive for senior citizens. An investment in housing is an important investment in our city’s economy and quality of life.”

The funding for Norwalk’s housing comes from the State-Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP) Revitalization Initiative. SSHP funds the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the state’s affordable housing portfolio containing more than 340 properties. Rehabilitation of these units will benefit more than 14,000 people.

“In the past five years, the state has made an historic investment in affordable housing development,”said DOH Commissioner Evonne M. Klein. “Ensuring access to affordable housing is yet another step in the right direction as we continue to refine our efforts focused on preventing and ending homelessness. Thanks to the support of Governor Malloy and legislative leaders like Senator Bob Duff, these strategic investments are having a lasting impact and are a key part of Connecticut’s economic recovery.”

Ludlow Commons, a 44-unit state congregate housing development owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, will receive approximately $3.7 million from DOH for renovations. The work will include new Energy Star windows, hallway flooring, common area ADA bathroom upgrades, elevator upgrades, fire alarm system upgrades, unit upgrades including ADA walk in showers (6 units), ADA accessories and exhaust fans (44 units), kitchen cabinet replacement, unit flooring replacement, unit painting, laundry room upgrades, interior and exterior LED lighting, new asphalt paved roadway/parking area. This project leverages approximately $42,000 in energy rebates and $100,000 of owner reserves.

The Marvin is a congregate housing facility for elderly residents with 49 one-bedroom units. DOH will provide approximately $3,547,000 to assist the owner, 60 Gregory Blvd LP, with the rehabilitation of the property. Rehabilitation will include upgraded walkways, entries and rear patio access areas as well as upgrading to energy efficient mechanical systems, window replacements, elevator upgrades, and site lighting upgrades. This project leverages $54,000 in energy rebates and $210,000 of owner reserves.

“2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of The Marvin, so this state funding is a wonderful way to update and improve our facility so it will last at least another 20 years,” said Mary Windt, executive director of Under One Roof, Inc.. which is the sponsor, owner and manager of The Marvin. “I want to thank Senator Duff and the State of Connecticut very much for their support.”