Sen. Moore Announces $14.6Million State Funding for Bridgeport Projects
Bond Commission set to approve funds at its December 11 meeting
Senate Chair of the State Bond Commission Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) announced today the expected approval of over $14.6 million for various economic development projects in Bridgeport, including the replacement of the Congress Street Bridge, improvements to Sikorsky Memorial Airport, maintenance of the coastal flood defense system, and preservation of Remington Arms.
“As we envision a future for Bridgeport full of economic growth and job opportunities, these projects will be part of how we achieve that,” Sen. Moore said. “I’m especially excited about the work being done to finally restore the Congress Street Bridge, which was once a major link between Downtown and the city’s East Side, and about the improvements to Sikorsky Memorial Airport. These transportation infrastructure projects will support future initiatives— like the entertainment that’s being proposed— and will attract other businesses to our city. I am glad to secure funding for these excellent projects in my district.”
When it meets on Tuesday, December 11, the State Bond Commission is expected approve the following items:
- $3,700,000 grant-in-aid to the City of Bridgeport to assist with the replacement of the Congress Street Bridge.
- $2,273,231 from the Department of Housing Shoreline Resiliency Fund to fund the required non-federal match for the Resilient Bridgeport project funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development National Disaster Resilience Competition. The matching funds will contribute to construction, operations, maintenance and related costs of the coastal flood defense system being constructed as a result of Super Storm Sandy.
- $1,000,000 grant-in-aid to the City of Bridgeport to assist with ongoing demolition, site remediation and historic preservation at the abandoned and blighted Remington Arms complex.
- $7,000,000 grant-in-aid to the City of Bridgeport to provide a match to private investment for “Phase 1” of improvements to Sikorsky Memorial Airport. The project includes improvements to the airport’s roadways and parking areas, construction of a terminal building and the rehabilitation of an existing abandoned structure to be reused as an operations center. All necessary financial commitments and assurances must be in place prior to any state funds being disbursed.
- $353,654 grant-in-aid to the McGivney Community Center, Inc. to finance demolition of the adjacent former Saint Charles Church School for parking and outdoor recreation space.
- $262,840 to finance alterations, improvements and technology equipment at Technical Education and Career Schools in Bridgeport.
- $100,000 grant-in-aid to match private funding in communities where Martin Luther King, Jr. corridors are established. The funds will be available for streetscape improvements, signage and way finding enhancements and façade improvements.
