Month: October 2025

SENATE PRESIDENT LOONEY, SENATOR CABRERA WELCOME $8.25 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR HAMDEN

Posted on by Devin James

SENATE PRESIDENT LOONEY, SENATOR CABRERA WELCOME $8.25 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR HAMDEN

HAMDEN – Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today welcomed a vote by the state Department of Economic and Community Development Community Investment Fund 2030 Board to provide $8.25 million to the City of Hamden to repair home foundations in the Newhall section of town and to plan a healing garden at DeNicola Park.

The funding recommendations will now be forwarded to the State Bond Commission, which is expected to approve them at its next meeting.

“There are terrible hardships being faced by homeowners in Newhall, and this state funding will help alleviate that. I want to thank the DECD for all of their work and support on this, as well as thank Senator Cabrera and local Hamden officials,” Sen. Looney said. “The funding for Eli’s Garden of Healing will help perfect their proposal, and then they can apply for other capital funds in the future.”

“It seems like the homeowners in Newhall cannot catch a break. Thankfully, this new funding and the comprehensive plan for various foundation repairs should make a lasting difference – and that’s what we want,” Sen. Cabrera said. “Eli’s Garden, it’s a well-known spot here in Hamden and they do a lot of good work. I think with some more planning we can turn this space into something really special, and that’s what this planning grant will help achieve.”

With its $8 million state grant, the City of Hamden plans to establish the Newhall Foundations Fund, a comprehensive foundation repair and community stabilization program addressing ongoing foundation issues affecting approximately 102 properties in the Newhall neighborhood.

The fund will address problems stemming from the consequences of historic soil contamination and remediation. The remediated soil, in combination with underlying soil conditions, has begun to cause structural and quality of life failures in the foundations of homes in remediated areas.

The Newhall Foundations Fund will implement a phased approach to foundation repairs, which will typically include foundation waterproofing and crack repair, structural reinforcement, wall and floor leveling, surface drainage repair, repair of settlement-related damage to interior finishes, and reconstruction of settled exterior elements. The fund will also provide for relocation of owners and residents whose homes are severely structurally compromised and warrant demolition, and repair of water intrusion and inadequate drainage resulting from remediation.

Eli’s Garden of Healing currently offers free community programs such as healing hikes, art events in the park, and service days with local students, serving hundreds of participants annually. The $250,000 grant will help the organization with its plan to transform a 1.7-acre overgrown parcel into a community healing space with an accessible forest garden dedicated to survivors of violence while also welcoming the broader public.

The project seeks to repurpose the former Winchester site’s historic test firing bed into a multi-use centerpiece for survivor meetings, recreation, and passive enjoyment, with ramps providing full accessibility and improving park access for nearby residents. The new space will expand offerings to include horticultural therapy, educational visits from local schools, and programming that highlights local wildlife, environmental history, and the legacy of gun manufacturing and environmental racism in Hamden, fostering healing, education, and community connection.

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes $900k for Bridgeport Health Center

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes $900k for Bridgeport Health Center

BRIDGEPORT – State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox welcomed news that the Community Investment Fund (CIF) gave approval to a request for $900,000 from Southwest Community Health Center Inc. to build a new health center location on Madison Avenue in Bridgeport.

Southwest Community Health Center (“Southwest”) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves Bridgeport through 25 licensed facilities, including healthcare services in seven homeless shelters, eight school-based health centers and one substance use disorder treatment program.

On top of this state funding, Southwest is leveraging $250,000 of their own funds, $2 million in federal funding, $1.2 million from the City of Bridgeport and $1.2 million from the DeLuca Foundation to build out this new location. The project will deliver a full-service health center on the second floor of the Wakeman Clubhouse on Madison Avenue. This site will feature 9 exam rooms, 4 behavioral health offices, and 4 dental operatories that will provide broad spectrum care to residents of all ages.

“I am grateful to the folks at Southwest for their deep commitment to providing accessible healthcare to Bridgeport, and for their vision to continue expanding to better serve their patients,” said Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox. “This new health center will provide essential services to Bridgeport and I want to thank the Community Investment Fund board for giving approval to this critical project.”

Projects approved by the CIF Board will now head to the State Bond Commission for a vote to release the funding.

SENATE PRESIDENT LOONEY, SENATOR CABRERA WELCOME $8.25 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR HAMDEN

Posted on by Devin James

SENATE PRESIDENT LOONEY, SENATOR CABRERA WELCOME $8.25 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR HAMDEN

HAMDEN – Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today welcomed a vote by the state Department of Economic and Community Development Community Investment Fund 2030 Board to provide $8.25 million to the City of Hamden to repair home foundations in the Newhall section of town and to plan a healing garden at DeNicola Park.

The funding recommendations will now be forwarded to the State Bond Commission, which is expected to approve them at its next meeting.

“There are terrible hardships being faced by homeowners in Newhall, and this state funding will help alleviate that. I want to thank the DECD for all of their work and support on this, as well as thank Senator Cabrera and local Hamden officials,” Sen. Looney said. “The funding for Eli’s Garden of Healing will help perfect their proposal, and then they can apply for other capital funds in the future.”

“It seems like the homeowners in Newhall cannot catch a break. Thankfully, this new funding and the comprehensive plan for various foundation repairs should make a lasting difference – and that’s what we want,” Sen. Cabrera said. “Eli’s Garden, it’s a well-known spot here in Hamden and they do a lot of good work. I think with some more planning we can turn this space into something really special, and that’s what this planning grant will help achieve.”

With its $8 million state grant, the City of Hamden plans to establish the Newhall Foundations Fund, a comprehensive foundation repair and community stabilization program addressing ongoing foundation issues affecting approximately 102 properties in the Newhall neighborhood.

The fund will address problems stemming from the consequences of historic soil contamination and remediation. The remediated soil, in combination with underlying soil conditions, has begun to cause structural and quality of life failures in the foundations of homes in remediated areas.

The Newhall Foundations Fund will implement a phased approach to foundation repairs, which will typically include foundation waterproofing and crack repair, structural reinforcement, wall and floor leveling, surface drainage repair, repair of settlement-related damage to interior finishes, and reconstruction of settled exterior elements. The fund will also provide for relocation of owners and residents whose homes are severely structurally compromised and warrant demolition, and repair of water intrusion and inadequate drainage resulting from remediation.

Eli’s Garden of Healing currently offers free community programs such as healing hikes, art events in the park, and service days with local students, serving hundreds of participants annually. The $250,000 grant will help the organization with its plan to transform a 1.7-acre overgrown parcel into a community healing space with an accessible forest garden dedicated to survivors of violence while also welcoming the broader public.

The project seeks to repurpose the former Winchester site’s historic test firing bed into a multi-use centerpiece for survivor meetings, recreation, and passive enjoyment, with ramps providing full accessibility and improving park access for nearby residents. The new space will expand offerings to include horticultural therapy, educational visits from local schools, and programming that highlights local wildlife, environmental history, and the legacy of gun manufacturing and environmental racism in Hamden, fostering healing, education, and community connection.

Senator Rahman Welcomes CIF Vote to Recommend $1 Million for Ädelbrook’s Manchester Academy

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Rahman Welcomes CIF Vote to Recommend $1 Million for Ädelbrook’s Manchester Academy

Senator MD Rahman, D-Manchester, celebrated a Tuesday vote by the Community Investment Fund (CIF) Board to recommend a $1 million state investment to help Ädelbrook Educational Programs expand the capacity of its Manchester Academy serving students with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The CIF vote represents a key step in the process of securing final approval of the funding by the State Bond Commission, which must meet within the next 60 days to take up the board’s recommendations.

The Manchester Academy currently operates at capacity and serves around 36 students with autism and developmental disabilities. The expected state funding will help the program reduce its waiting list by expanding the facility and hiring new staff so it can enroll more students between the ages of three and 11.

“This $1 million investment is a compassionate commitment to the future of our children and our community,” Senator Rahman said. “The need for specialized services for students with autism is urgent, and this funding ensures that dozens of families on the waiting list will get access to the education and therapy they deserve. This project helps guarantee the right of every child to receive a quality education and creates new jobs right here in Manchester.”

Senator Honig Applauds CIF Vote to Fund Major Torrington Projects

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Honig Applauds CIF Vote to Fund Major Torrington Projects

Senator Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, celebrated a Tuesday vote by the Community Investment Fund (CIF) Board to recommend supporting two transformative projects in Torrington, including $1 million to expand a fresh food production program and $250,000 to encourage the growth and development of the KidsPlay Children’s Museum.

The CIF vote represents a key step in the process of securing final approval of the funding by the State Bond Commission, which must meet within the next 60 days to take up the board’s recommendations.

The expected state funding will help the City of Torrington advance these initiatives:

-$1 million for the CT Food 4 Thought Expansion Project: this initiative supplies fresh, pesticide-free lettuce to dozens of Connecticut schools and local grocery stores. The planned expansion includes the construction of new facilities designed to increase CT Food 4 Thought’s current production capacity while also creating new living-wage jobs in Northwest Connecticut.

-$250,000 for the KidsPlay Children’s Museum: The museum aims to provide children with exhibits that foster creativity and encourage an understanding of the arts, sciences, and the world. This planning grant is designed to help ensure the museum’s future development meets community needs, makes the best use of its space, and encourages greater community engagement.

“The funding recommended today by the CIF Board will be direct investments in the health, economy, and children of both Torrington and the Northwest Connecticut region,” Senator Honig said. “The CT Food 4 Thought project will put healthy food on the tables of thousands of families and students, while the support for the KidsPlay Children’s Museum will help provide Torrington kids with an even more enriching center for learning and creativity. These are fiscally responsible investments that promise significant returns for our residents, and I look forward to the State Bond Commission’s final approval.”