Cathy Osten

State Bond Commission Approves Funding for Three Rivers Community College; Norwich Hospital Project

Norwich, CT—State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed the news that the State Bond Commission has awarded Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) in Norwich with nearly $1 million in funding to improve educational services for students and has allocated $10 million for remediation of the former Norwich Hospital site.

“Three Rivers is a critical educational resource in our region and this funding will allow our community college to provide students with additional services to ensure they are successful in obtaining a degree or professional certificate,” said Sen. Osten. “I am also thrilled that the commission has shown its confidence in the remediation and renovation of the former Norwich Hospital property. This project is going to be an enormous economic driver in our community for years to come, and redeveloping this long blighted site is money well spent.”

The State Bond Commission voted to approve $920,000 to TRCC for the design and construction of a new Tutoring and Academic Success Center at the Norwich campus. The funding will also be used to make modifications to the college’s library and make student services renovations.

Phase 1 of the project consists of the demolition and new construction of partitions, ceilings, interior finishes and fireproofing to the second floor framing between the tutoring center and second floor library. Phase 2 consists of the design of the Student Center and Library renovations project, which will reconfigure approximately 24,700 square feet of space.

Additionally, the commission voted to allocate a $10 million grant-in-aid to the town of Preston, which will fund the completion of environmental remediation of the property and demolition of buildings at the former Norwich Hospital site. The 393-acre property along the Thames River is slated to be redeveloped by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority and converted to a non-casino resort.