Middletown Delegation Welcomes $13.3M in Funding for City

Today, State Senators Matt Lesser and Jan Hochadel, and State Representatives Kai Belton and Brandon Chafee welcome $13.3M for Middletown, including $3.5M for renovations to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce building. The State Bonding Commission gave final approval to several projects:

• $3.5M for renovations to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce
• $2.1M in Community Investment Funds for the Community Health Center Urban Garden Greenhouse
• $7.7M for renovations at the Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center-South Campus

Working together with Johanna Bond, Executive Director of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, and the Middlesex County delegation, Senator Lesser took the lead in securing $3.5M for renovations to the Chamber building, including energy efficiency upgrades and ADA improvements. The Chamber office is located in downtown Middletown, in a building that was built in 1915. The Chamber seeks to renovate the space to make it safe and energy efficient and complete interior modifications to meet the growing needs for technology and meeting space and install an elevator to provide access for chamber staff, members and the broader community, while maintaining the historic look and character of the original building.

Working with Middletown’s delegation, Sen. Lesser also helped secure funding for the Urban Garden Greenhouse through the Community Investment Fund (CIF). CIF was developed to foster economic development in historically underserved Connecticut communities. The fund has released hundreds of millions of dollars to eligible municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and community development corporations. The project was approved by the Community Investment Fund in March of this year, and now gains final approval from the State Bond Commission.

The Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center-South Campus, locally known as Solnit South, is a youth mental health facility that will receive $7.7 million for replacement of a chiller unit, repairs to the roof, and emergency repairs as necessary.

“After working together with many community partners, I am thrilled to see such big wins for Middletown on today’s bonding agenda that will transform and re-energize Middletown’s Main Street,” said State Sen. Matt Lesser. “I am particularly excited to secure major funding for the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, which serves as a resource for so many small businesses in our area. While the Chamber is continuously reinventing itself to stay relevant for today’s economy, its building is increasingly out of date and inaccessible. It was clear that these upgrades will be essential to help them meet the changing needs of our local business community. Today’s vote invests in Middletown and the surrounding community and I am immensely grateful to Governor Lamont and the Middlesex County legislative delegation for their support.”

“This funding will allow the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce to make critical upgrades to its infrastructure including technological and accessibility improvements all while avoiding programmatic and staffing reductions,” State Sen. Jan Hochadel said. “This support will ensure that the Chamber can continue to serve the local business community and encourage economic development in the Middletown region.”

“I would like to thank Governor Lamont and the bond commission for approving over $13 million in funding for the Urban Garden Greenhouse, Chamber of Commerce, and rehabilitation at the Solnit Psychiatric Center’s South Campus,” State Rep. Brandon Chafee said. “Each of these entities is essential to the health of our thriving community, and I am proud that our delegation continues to deliver funding for these types of investments.”

“I am grateful for the state’s continued investment in Middletown. These projects will provide critical funding to organizations that strengthen our community. Thank you to Governor Lamont and the bond commission for their consideration,” said State Rep. Kai Belton.

“We are so grateful and appreciative to the Governor, the Bond Commission and Senator Matt Lesser for giving us this great opportunity to do much needed upgrades to the Middlesex Chamber building,” said Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Johanna Bond. “This allows us to continue to grow our programs and services to support our businesses and communities. We look forward to continuing making Middlesex County a great place to live, work and play.”