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Governor Lamont Signs Biennial State Budget for 2026 and 2027

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on July 1, 2025 at 0:21 in NEWS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law the biennial state budget bill for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which makes historic investments to expand access to early childhood education, which is among the costliest item for families, all while holding the line on taxes.

Notable investments include:

Early childhood education: The budget makes historic levels of investment to support Connecticut’s early childhood education system, including $417.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $443 million in fiscal year 2027. General Fund appropriations for early childhood education are up $252.7 million between fiscal years 2018 and 2027 – a 133% increase. In addition to these investments, the budget establishes the Early Childhood Education Endowment by transferring up to $300 million of the unappropriated General Fund surplus at the close of fiscal year 2025. This endowment will be used to make more early childhood education slots available and enroll more children into the system.
Special education: The budget makes historic levels of investments to support special education, growing by $44.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $49.9 million in fiscal year 2027, as well as capital investments of $10 million in each year. By 2027, state investments in special education will have grown by 95%.
K-12 education: The budget fully funds Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for towns and cities, including a hold harmless provision that provides $8.7 million in fiscal year 2026 and $17.4 million in fiscal year 2027 to ensure that no municipality loses ECS funding over the biennium. Since Governor Lamont took office in 2019, ECS grants have grown by roughly $443 million – an 18% increases in support for K-12 public schools.
Higher education: The budget increases funding for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Fund – Connecticut’s state-funded scholarship program for residents who attend in-state public and private higher education institutions – by $1.4 million in fiscal year 2026 and $16.4 million in fiscal year 2027. When combined with $15 million previously reserved for fiscal year 2026, both years of the biennium will be funded at $41 million – the highest level of state-appropriated scholarship funding in more than a decade. General Fund support for UConn is increased by an additional $49 million in fiscal year 2026 and $34 million in fiscal year 2027; UConn Health receives an additional $29 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $25 million in fiscal year 2027; and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) receives a budget increase of an additional $32 million in fiscal year 2026 and $45 million in 2027.
Health and human service providers: The budget supports $50 million in fiscal year 2026 to annualize fiscal year 2025 increases and $126 million in fiscal year 2027 to support a 3% increase for private providers, plus an additional $30 million specific to non-DDS providers. Plus, the budget provides an additional $100.1 million to support the group home settlement over the biennium, representing a 15% increase.
Housing: The budget provides $3.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $5 million in fiscal year 2027 to support eviction prevention, as well as support HUBs, which are the physical locations where individuals and families get appointments to gain access to homelessness resources. Plus $6.7 million is provided, beginning in fiscal year 2027, to increase elderly and disabled RAP vouchers, as well as HeadStart on Housing Vouchers, which is a system approach to combating homelessness with the support and collaboration of private providers, state agencies, and local communities across housing, childcare, and social services.

Governor Lamont said, “This is a balanced, sensible budget that is under the spending cap, provides predictability and stability for residents, businesses, and municipalities, and holds the line on taxes while keeping us on a sound fiscal path. Importantly, it includes significant investments in our education system, beginning with historic levels of support for early childhood education, up through our K-12 public schools and our higher education institutions. It also protects our social services safety net, prioritizing our health and human services providers and increasing support for our most vulnerable residents, including seniors and those who have disabilities, who receive Medicaid. And while we are doing all of this, we are continuing to make historic and long-overdue payments into the pension system, preserving the strength of our fiscal guardrails, and making fiscally responsible investments into the rainy-day fund that will protect our state against any potential economic headwinds we may face in the future. I thank the legislature for their hard work and collaboration on this budget. While other states are increasing taxes and cutting services, economic analysts are pointing to Connecticut as an example of a state that has worked hard to maintain fiscal stability and is making the smart decisions that are critical for economic growth.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney said, “This budget includes several major initiatives, including a new trust fund for early childhood education that will be transformative in getting children ready for kindergarten, and a larger investment in special education to help towns deal with ever-increasing special education costs.”

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said, “Our budget showcases our priorities. We make critical investments in education and childcare while providing relief to thousands of working families with a $250 credit through the EITC framework. This budget was a team effort and I want to thank the chairs, Senate leaders, Governor and the staffs who worked so hard to ensure we crossed the finish line.”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said, “Voting for a significant special education funding increase and prioritizing millions of dollars more in the classroom underscores our commitment to students, parents, teachers and school personnel across this state. I want to thank Senator Looney for fighting for a strong state budget, as well as Senators Osten and Fonfara, Speaker Ritter, Majority Leader Rojas, their fiscal chairs, and all our hardworking staff for negotiating a two-year budget that delivers on so many of our promises.”

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said, “This budget represents a bold investment in Connecticut’s most vital asset: our people. It reflects our commitment to invest in our future – our youngest learners – through historic levels of funding for early childhood education and childcare as well as investments in special education and fully funding the state’s obligation to our traditional public schools. We know that when we invest in our children, we invest in the foundation of our communities. We continue to support our towns and cities by sustaining and increasing municipal aid to help relieve the pressure of property taxes and ensure that local governments can serve residents effectively. We’re also addressing some of the most urgent needs in our state, including affordable housing and transportation so people and our economy can keep moving forward.”

Senator Cathy Osten, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said, “This is a good budget that addresses the real issues for real people that we heard about in countless hours of public hearings – food, health care, nonprofits and education.”

State Representative Maria Horn, co-chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, said, “This budget reflects the legislature’s commitment to responsible, people-first policymaking. We delivered a $250 refundable credit for working families, a $500 credit for home daycare providers, and new incentives to help families save for college – all targeted toward easing everyday costs. We also ensured small businesses can compete on a fairer playing field by modernizing our tax code and expanding support for local farms and rural economies. Even with a tough revenue forecast, we passed a balanced, forward-looking budget that supports families, strengthens our workforce, and creates a better environment for small businesses to thrive.”

The budget bill is Public Act 25-168. The 2026 fiscal year begins July 1, 2025.

Governor Lamont Announces Selection of Developer for Major Transit-Oriented Development at New Haven Union Station

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 25, 2025 at 16:45 in NEWS

Renderings of the new transit-oriented, mixed-use community project at New Haven Union Station.

New Haven Union Station.

(NEW HAVEN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Deputy Commissioner Laoise King today announced that Gilbane Development Company and MURAL Real Estate Partners have been selected to lead a privately developed transit-oriented, mixed-use community at New Haven Union Station.

The $316.1 million project will convert underused state-owned land at Union Station into a vibrant, mixed-use development anchored by two 16-story towers, bringing new housing, retail, and jobs just steps from rail, bus, and bike connections.

The project will deliver 470 new apartments, including 118 affordable units, alongside more than 28,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 26,000 square feet of residential amenities, and 294 parking spaces to serve both tenants and transit customers. Construction will be completed in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and be completed by early 2028. The second phase will start in August 2029 and wrap up by November 2031.

“This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking development we need to see more of in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “We’re creating new housing, including affordable units, while strengthening public transit and growing the local economy. It’s a win for New Haven and a model for the rest of the state.”

“The New Haven Union Station redevelopment is part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s larger strategy to reimagine underused state land at transit hubs across the state,” Deputy Commissioner King said. “In communities around the state, our goal is to turn these under-utilized parking lots into neighborhoods that encourage transit activity and long-term economic growth.”

“You can’t get more transit-oriented development than building nearly 500 new homes right next to one of the busiest train hubs in the northeast,” Ed Broderick, CEO of Gilbane Inc., said. “Gilbane is honored to partner with the State of Connecticut, the City of New Haven, and Mural Real Estate Partners on this transformative project. This is precisely the kind of visionary development that helps combat the housing crisis and reconnect communities.”

“Union Station is one of New Haven’s most iconic and important places of connection,” Robin Zeigler, founder and CEO of MURAL Real Estate Partners, said. “This project represents an opportunity to further weave it into the life of the city – with new mixed-income residences, an engaging mix of retailers and local businesses, and public spaces that welcome both residents and visitors. We’re honored to partner with the State of Connecticut and Gilbane on this transformational effort and look forward to delivering a place that reflects and serves the New Haven community.”

In addition to this transit-oriented development project underway in New Haven, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will issue a request for proposal this summer for another transit-oriented development project in Stamford.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is also studying 18 state-owned parking lots for potential transit-oriented development projects in partnership with cities, towns, developers, and other stakeholders. Station locations being studied include Branford, Darien, Fairfield, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven, and Wilton, among others

Governor Lamont Releases $30 Million for Infrastructure Improvements in 46 Small Towns

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 28, 2025 at 15:27 in NEWS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is releasing $30 million in state grants to 46 small towns in Connecticut that will be used to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements, such as road safety reconstruction projects, emergency management upgrades, sidewalk and pedestrian safety enhancements, educational and recreational facility upgrades, and other kinds of capital improvement projects.

The grants are being provided through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), a state program managed by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) that delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life capital projects. In addition to the grants from the state, each municipality is also contributing funds, bringing the total spent on the 48 projects to $43.4 million in a combination of state, local, and other funding sources.

“Our small towns are an important part of what makes Connecticut such a special place to live and work,” Governor Lamont said. “By partnering with each town, we can help get these infrastructure projects completed so these towns can continue to thrive, remain competitive, attract businesses, and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

Towns seeking funding under this current round of STEAP grants were required to submit applications to the state by February 20, 2025. Towns selected to receive grants will soon be contacted by OPM with an official award notification and further instructions. Funding to support these grants was recently approved by the State Bond Commission, a group that Governor Lamont leads as chairperson.

The STEAP grants awarded in this round include:

Ashford: $400,000 in state funding is approved for the repaving of the Ashford Public Works Facility. This will be matched by $104,701 from the town.
Beacon Falls: $1 million in state funding is approved for Maple, Century, and Division Roadway rehabilitation and complete streets improvements. This will be matched by $927,150 from the town.
Berlin: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Berlin Peck Library reroofing and mechanical replacement project. This will be matched by $240,000 by the town.
Bolton: $427,863 in state funding is approved for Notch Road community event space. This will be matched by $89,250 from the town.
Branford: $1 million in state funding is approved for Town Center sidewalk improvements. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Brookfield: $545,000 in state funding is approved for Phase 1 of the Brookfield High School athletic fields renovations. This will be matched by $230,000 from the town.
Burlington: $255,664 in state funding is approved for the Town Hall Emergency Standby/Station 1 EMS Command Center. This will be matched by $63,916 from the town.
Canaan: $620,051 in state funding is approved for critical municipal infrastructure. This will be matched by $155,014 from the town.
Cheshire: $1 million in state funding is approved Phase II of Mixville Park improvements. This will be matched by $281,800 from the town.
Chester: $796,000 in state funding is approved for the infrastructure and repair of Three Local Bridges. This will be matched by $199,000 from the town.
Clinton: $543,600 in state funding is approved for the Clinton Public Works and Emergency Management Building. This will be matched by $135,900 from the town.
Colchester: $900,000 in state funding is approved for Lebanon Avenue Airline Trail Head and Mill Street streetscape improvements. This will be matched by $220,000 from the town.
Colebrook: $412,739.02 in state funding is approved for municipal roads and parking lot renovations. This will be matched by $103,184.76 from the town.
Durham: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Shady Lane reconstruction. This will be matched by $270,000 from the town.
Essex: $1 million in state funding is approved for Phase II of the Essex Public Works Campus Improvements. This will be matched by $1 million from the town.
Fairfield: $601,170 in state funding is approved for the repaving of Phase 2 of the Reef Road pedestrian improvements. This will be matched by $150,292 from the town.
Farmington: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Tunxis Mead Improvement Plan. This will be matched by $502,000 from the town.
Franklin: $100,000 in state funding is approved for the Franklin Elementary School/Emergency Shelter Generator Engineering and Acquisition. This will be matched by $20,000 from the town.
Granby: $579,825 in state funding is approved for the Salmon Brook Park Connector and Auxiliary Parking. This will be matched by $117,000 from the town.
Hampton: $500,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Windham Road. This will be matched by $220,000 from the town.
Ledyard: $892,888.10 in state funding is approved for the Town Playground Improvement Project. This will be matched by $179,000 from the town.
Litchfield: $500,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Wigwam Road. This will be matched by $873,190 from the town.
New Canaan: $300,000 in state funding is approved for Phase 2 improvements to Waveny Park Playground. This will be matched by $325,000 from the town, and $150,000 from the Friends of Waveny Playground.
Newington: $485,610.60 in state funding is approved for the Candlewyck Park Inclusive Playground. This will be matched by $121,365 from the town.
New Milford: $1 million in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Merryall Road. This will be matched by $316,192 from the town.
Newtown: $600,000 in state funding is approved for the Newtown Community Center Splash Pad and Storage Facility. This will be matched by $573,000 from the town, and $48,000 from community donations.
North Branford: $1 million in state funding is approved Edward Smith Library HVAC Improvements. This will be matched by $850,000 from the town.
North Stonington: $76,800 in state funding is approved for Transfer Station Permanent Pads. This will be matched by $19,200 from the town.
North Stonington: $66,721.39 in state funding is approved for North Stonington Education Center Meeting Space Upgrade. This will be matched by $16,680.35 from the town.
North Stonington: $479,775 in state funding is approved for the improvement of Three Municipal Parking Lots and Culvert Pipe Replacement on Hangman Hill and Reutemann Road. This will be matched by $119,944 from the town.
Old Saybrook: $667,948 in state funding is approved for Ferry Road Soccer Field renovation. This will be matched by $222,649 from the town.
Orange: $600,000 in state funding is approved for parking lot paving and guardrail replacement. This will be matched by $150,000 from the town.
Plainville: $672,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of recreational facilities at Charles H. Norton Park. This will be matched by $168,000 from the town.
Portland: $1 million in state funding is approved for Phase II of High Street Water Main Replacement and Road Reconstruction. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Preston: $450,000 in state funding is approved for Preston Community Park improvements. This will be matched by $100,000 from the town.
Putnam: $1 million in state funding is approved for Sports Complex improvements project. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Ridgefield: $280,640 in state funding is approved for concrete endwall replacement on Canterbury Lane. This will be matched by $102,160 from the town.
Roxbury: $1 million in state funding is approved for the Roxbury Volunteer Ambulance Building. This will be matched by $250,000 from the town.
Salem: $168,000 in state funding is approved for Salem Center Community Building upgrades. This will be matched by $34,000 from the town.
Salisbury: $328,000 in state funding is approved for Salisbury Recreational improvements. This will be matched by $82,000 from the town.
Scotland: $248,651 in state funding is approved for Municipal Safety Complex and Community Hall repairs and upgrades. This will be matched by $27,628 from the town.
Sharon: $1 million in state funding is approved for River Road pavement and embankment stabilization. This will be matched by $700,000 from the town.
Shelton: $1 million in state funding is approved for public facility and recreational enhancements. This will be matched by $200,000 from the town.
Sherman: $230,000 in state funding is approved to repair and renovate the Scouthouse. This will be matched by $46,000 from the town.
Somers: $191,224 in state funding is approved for the Connor’s Place Playground resurfacing. This will be matched by $47,806 from the town.
Union: $120,000 in state funding is approved for rehabilitation of Holland Road. This will be matched by $24,000 from the town.
Voluntown: $1 million in state funding is approved for Congdon Road Improvements. This will be matched by $250,000 from the town.
Westport: $1 million in state funding is approved for replacement of the Cross Highway Bridge over Deadman Brook. This will be matched by $1,130,154 from the town, and $619,846 from LoCIP funding.

Governor Lamont Announces Three-Year Agreement To Provide Wage Increases for Direct Care Workers in Nursing Homes and Group Home

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 24, 2025 at 2:55 in NEWS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration has reached a three-year agreement with SEIU 1199 NE that will result in significant wage increases for direct care workers in Connecticut’s nursing homes and group homes. As a result, the union has withdrawn its plans to strike.

“The workers in our nursing homes and group homes provide critical support and care to our most vulnerable residents, and in doing so, deserve salaries that reflect their dedicated work,” Governor Lamont said. “I am proud to reach an agreement that provides workers with a significant increase in their compensation for the next several years, while also addressing the workforce crisis facing many of our nursing and group homes. This deal protects and maintains continuity of care for thousands vulnerable seniors and individuals with disabilities. I appreciate SEIU 1199 and their President Rob Baril for working with state leaders to reach a fair deal.”

“I’m happy that the governor and lawmakers saw the true value of healthcare workers like me,” Johannah Alabi, a CNA and one of the healthcare workers who participated in negotiations with Governor Lamont’s office, said. “The last thing we wanted to do was go on strike – we’d rather remain with our residents who need us. We’re looking forward to continuing to provide care while also feeling respected and supported for the hard work we do.”

The agreement includes incremental increases in Medicaid for nursing homes and group homes over the next three years that creates a pathway to increase wages for certified nursing assistants to $26 per hour by January 1, 2028.

Celebration of Long Wharf Pier’s Designation as a National Historic Place

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 24, 2025 at 2:47 in NEWS

Celebration of Long Wharf Pier’s Designation as a National Historic Place

Join us in commemorating the designation of Long Wharf Pier as a National Historic Place.

Learn about the innovative methods that William Lanson – a free Black engineer, entrepreneur, and abolitionist – used to build the pier, the history of the pier, of New Haven Harbor, and the impact both had on the growth of New Haven. Then, enjoy ice cream and gelato!

Both events take place at the Boathouse at Canal Dock, are free, and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, but not required. Register here.

Long Wharf Pier Celebration

When: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

5:30 p.m. Historian Bruce Clouette talk
6:30 p.m. Ice cream/Gelato Social

Where: Canal Dock Boathouse, 475 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven

TREASURER RUSSELL ANNOUNCES $726 MILLION IN SAVINGS THROUGH EARLY RETIREMENT OF STATE TRANSPORTATION DEBT

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 21, 2025 at 22:05 in NEWS

Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell today announced the early elimination of an additional $176 million of transportation-related debt, bringing the total to $570 million of debt paid off early as a result of 2024 legislative changes championed by Treasurer Russell and Governor Ned Lamont. The early elimination of debt will save taxpayers $726 million over the next decade.

“Retiring state transportation debt early benefits Connecticut taxpayers by reducing the debt burden while we continue to fund and invest in the critical transportation projects they rely on,” said Treasurer Russell. “By strategically using excess balance in the Special Transportation Fund to reduce long-term debt, we achieved savings of $45 million in the current year and $68 million annually from 2026 to 2035.

“This simple but powerful approach to fiscal management is proving to be one of the true successes of the 2024 legislative session, and it will continue to benefit Connecticut residents in 2025 and for years to come. I am hopeful that the legislature will vote this year to extend this practice in perpetuity.”

In recent years, the amount of money held in reserve in the Special Transportation Fund (STF) had grown significantly. Last year, Treasurer Russell and the Lamont Administration proposed using funds in excess of 18% of operating expenses to pay down long-term debt. That provision was adopted by the legislature for the current fiscal year only. Utilizing excess reserves to remove debt from the balance sheet improves the long-term health of the STF by lowering or removing future principal and interest payments on borrowing, known as debt service.

The Legislature is currently considering legislation proposed by Treasurer Russell that would permanently authorize the use of excess in the Special Transportation Fund to payoff outstanding transportation-related bonds. Senate Bill 1461 An Act Concerning the Treasurer’s Recommendation for the Paydown of Special Tax Obligation Indebtedness was voted out of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Earlier this year, the Office of the Treasurer was able to redeem $394 million of Special Tax Obligation (STO) Transportation Infrastructure bonds that were eligible for pre-payment. Today, an additional $176 million of bonds have been discharged with the deposit of funds with the Bond Trustee to redeem the bonds on August 1, 2025, when they become eligible for pre-payment.

In addition to the excess amounts available in the STF, an additional $34 million was used from bond reserves that were no longer needed due to the early payoffs.

More information on Connecticut’s bonding programs is available at www.buyctbonds.com.

*** END *** 

Governor Lamont Announces More Than 100,000 Connecticut Residents Being Notified This Week That Some or All of Their Medical Debt Has Been Erased

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 21, 2025 at 22:02 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that letters are being mailed this week to more than 100,000 Connecticut residents notifying them that some or all of their medical debt has been eliminated under the second round of an initiative his administration launched last year through a partnership with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.

Under the partnership, Undue Medical Debt is leveraging investments from the state to negotiate with hospitals and other providers on the elimination of large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt owed by Connecticut patients. Those who qualify must have income at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income. (The current federal poverty level is an annual income at or below $32,150 for a family of four.) Since these medical debts are acquired in bulk and belong to those least able to pay, they cost a fraction of their face value, often pennies on the dollar.

In this second round, the state invested $575,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and Undue Medical Debt was able to negotiate with a secondary market partner to acquire and eliminate more than $100 million in qualifying medical debt. The first round occurred in December and saw the elimination of approximately $30 million in medical debt for 23,000 of the state’s residents.

Those who have been identified for relief will receive a branded envelope and letter from Undue Medical Debt in the mail over the next several days. (To view a sample of what this letter looks like, click here.)

“Medical debt causes additional anxiety and stress when individuals and families are coping with potentially life-threatening health situations,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the next few days, more than 100,000 Connecticut residents who have been struggling to pay their medical bills will feel relief when they receive letters in the mail notifying them that their debt has been erased. I am hopeful that additional medical partners will soon sign onto this program to help more Connecticut families through further rounds of this initiative.”

“I’m very grateful for the State of Connecticut’s continued partnership in providing medical debt relief to its residents,” Allison Sesso, CEO and president of Undue Medical Debt, said. “The erasure of these debts of necessity wouldn’t be possible without community-minded leaders like Governor Lamont and his team, who believe medical debt should not be a hindrance to seeking needed care. We look forward to continuing our work in the state so families can seek healthcare with dignity.”

“Medical debt can be a crippling burden on patients, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet,” State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, co-chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, said. “Erasing medical debt for an additional 100,000 residents will greatly ease the stress they are facing and will free them up to focus on their health and well-being. Thank you to Governor Lamont and Undue Medical Debt for their leadership on this innovative program.”

Because this debt erasure occurs through the purchase of large, qualifying bundled portfolios of debt from participating partners like hospitals and collection agencies, there is no application process for this relief and it cannot be requested.

Governor Lamont intends to continue partnering with Undue Medical Debt to enact further rounds of medical debt cancellation. The governor and the Connecticut General Assembly enacted legislation that makes $6.5 million in ARPA funding available for this initiative.

Governor Lamont Applauds House Approval of His Plan To Increase the Wages of Connecticut State Police Troopers

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 20, 2025 at 17:45 in NEWS

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is applauding the Connecticut House of Representatives for voting today to approve the agreement he negotiated with the Connecticut State Police Union that will enact pay increases for the Connecticut State Police.

The governor and the union reached the agreement in April. It must be approved by both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly for it to take effect.

“I submitted a plan to the state legislature to give pay raises to the Connecticut State Police because I believe that our state troopers deserve salaries that reflect the essential work they provide to our state and can help recruit more officers to serve in these positions,” Governor Lamont said. “Ensuring the safety of our residents requires us to invest in state troopers and their families. I am glad that the majority of lawmakers in the House supported it, and I urge the Senate to join them in approving the plan.”

The legislation that was approved today is House Resolution 17. It passed by a vote of 134 to 12, with the votes in opposition cast by Republican legislators. The agreement must next be approved by the State Senate

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is applauding the Connecticut House of Representatives for voting today to approve the agreement he negotiated with the Connecticut State Police Union that will enact pay increases for the Connecticut State Police.

The governor and the union reached the agreement in April. It must be approved by both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly for it to take effect.

“I submitted a plan to the state legislature to give pay raises to the Connecticut State Police because I believe that our state troopers deserve salaries that reflect the essential work they provide to our state and can help recruit more officers to serve in these positions,” Governor Lamont said. “Ensuring the safety of our residents requires us to invest in state troopers and their families. I am glad that the majority of lawmakers in the House supported it, and I urge the Senate to join them in approving the plan.”

The legislation that was approved today is House Resolution 17. It passed by a vote of 134 to 12, with the votes in opposition cast by Republican legislators. The agreement must next be approved by the State Sena

Artsucation™ Academy Network and the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven: New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 17, 2025 at 9:08 in NEWS and ENTERTAINMENT

New Haven Green

New Haven, CT — April 25, 2025 — The Artsucation™ Academy Network and the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven proudly present the New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony, a powerful annual event celebrating freedom, unity, and community pride.

Join us on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM on the historic New Haven Green for the official city flag raising of the Juneteenth Flag. This inspiring ceremony will feature a live trumpeter, performances by talented New Haven artists, members of the Official Juneteenth Coalition, and special remarks from the Mayor of New Haven.

The Juneteenth Flag Raising marks the beginning of the city’s commemorations and honors the significance of June 19, 1865—the day enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom. This annual event is a call for remembrance, reflection, and a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to equality and justice.

Mark your calendars every year!
The New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony will be held annually on the first Monday of June at 1:00 PM on the New Haven Green.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: New Haven Green, New Haven, CT

Stand with us as we lift the Juneteenth Flag high, celebrate resilience, and honor the ongoing journey toward freedom and equality.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or more information, please contact:
Mama Iman Hameen
info@artsucation.org
475-444-9570

www.artsucation.org

Follow us:
Instagram @ArtsucationAcademyNetwork | Facebook @ArtsucationAcademyNetwork and @TheOfficialJuneteenthCoalitionofGreaterNewHaven

Walsh Reigns Supreme: Edges Williams to earn WBC 130-lbs title

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 11, 2025 at 11:54 in NEWS

MASHANTUCKET, CT – "King" Kevin Walsh (17-0, 9 KOs) vanquished the last of his regional rivals on Saturday night, winning a hard fought 10-round majority decision over Tremaine "The Mighty Midget" Williams (20-3, 6 KOs) at the Premier Theater in Foxwoods Resort Casino.

With the win, Walsh added the WBC US Silver Super Featherweight title to his growing collection.

"Hats off to Williams, he’s a hell of a fighter," said Brockton, MA's Walsh, who stopped cross-town rival Irvin Gonzalez in 4 rounds last November to win the New England Super Featherweight title and followed up that impressive win with an electrifying 8th round knockout over Rhode Island's Ricky de los Santos in February to pick up the WBC US Silver Featherweight title.  "I got the knockdown in round 4, and I think it was the difference."

It very well may have been.  Other than the knockdown, the bout was fought on even terms over 10 rounds.  The contest began with a battle of the jabs as each man looked to establish ring generalship.

Walsh began to pressure Williams in round 3, and the former world title challenger from New Haven, CT responded with a counter left hand and several left jabs.  Just when the ‘Mighty Midget’ was settling into the fight, Walsh went on the offensive in round 4, landing a leaping right hand that dropped Williams.  The Brockton native looked to follow up, but the crafty Williams responded with a left hand and a short right hook to stave off further punishment.

The bout became a tense chess match during the middle rounds, with each fighter working angles to gain an edge.  Walsh picked up the pace in round 8, but the southpaw Williams responded with quick left hands before evading the incoming fire.

Walsh likely sealed the deal in rounds 9 and 10, pushing the pace of the fight and desperately trying to hurt his foe.  After 10 hard rounds, the crowd waited tensely as the announcer read the judges’ scorecards, with 2 judges seeing the fight 95-94 and 96-93 for Walsh, overruling the third judge who scored the fight 96-93 for Williams.

‘Savage’ Steven Sumpter stops Janer Gonzalez to win WBC 168-lbs title

In the night’s co-feature, "Savage" Steven Sumpter (11-1-1, 9 KOs) earned the vacant WBC US Silver Super Middleweight title, knocking out grizzled veteran Janer Gonzalez (23-8-1, 19 KOs) in round 6 of a scheduled 8 round bout.  Sumpter, of Lawrence, MA, took his time in figuring out the Miami based Colombian, patiently stalking him over the first few rounds looking for opportunities to counter.

"I was trying to bait him in and see what he had," explained Sumpter after the bout. "I wanted him to walk into something."

The southpaw began sitting on his punches in round 5, landing a heavy left hand that Gonzalez shook off.  Attempting to turn the tide, Gonzalez began moving forward in round 6, trapping Sumpter in the corner.  It turned out to be a costly mistake, as Sumpter landed a counter left hand that put Gonzalez on the canvas.  The Colombian beat the count and proceeded to trade, but another left hand dropped him hard, causing the stoppage at 1:42 of round 6.

Other results

Polish prospect Slawomir "The Heavy Hitter" Bohdziewicz improved to 6-0 (5), dropping Russell Harris (6-2, 6 KOs) twice in the 6th and final round for a last-minute stoppage.  The contest began with the taller Bohdziewicz plodding forward behind a left jab and heavy hooks and right hands, while the smaller, stockier Harris looked to counter with looping shots.  Bohdziewicz’s thudding shots began to take effect on the St. Louis native in round 5, as the exhausted southpaw desperately tried to survive Slaw’s onslaught. The Stamford, CT native finally broke through in round 6, dropping Harris with a jab, right hand combination. Harris beat the count, but Slaw dug a piercing left hook to Harris’ body that immediately dropped the Missourian to a knee, causing Harvey Dock to stop the bout at 2:15.

We already knew that Jacob "Lefty" Marrero (9-0, 7 KOs) was talented. Now we know that he can also overcome adversity.  The Bridgeport, CT native took on New York’s Wilfredo Flores (11-5-1, 5 KOs) in a battle of lightweights.  Marrero came out fast, landing quick counter left hands against the New Yorker.  Lefty hurt Flores in round 3, but the Mexican American shook it off and attempted to walk him down in round 4.  Flores almost stuck gold in round 5, staggering Marrero with a left hand.  The Bridgeport native leaned against the ropes, quickly composed himself and began to box, landing sharp counter shots.  Flores was never able to replicate his early success, as the quicker Marrero boxed intelligently while landing stinging lefts and rights.  Scores after 8 rounds were 79-73 (3x).

Highly touted heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (6-0, 5 KOs) survived a scare, appearing to injure his knee after trading punches with Brandon Carmack (8-8-2, 5 KOs) in round 1 of their 6-round contest.  The bout continued after a few anxious minutes, with Feliz launching a series of head shots that dropped Carmack.  The Missouri native rose only to continue absorbing punishment, taking a knee later in the round from a big right hand.  Danbury, CT’s Feliz went in for the finish in round 2, dropping Carmack twice more, the second with a right uppercut to the stomach that dropped Carmack for good.  Time was 1:31 of round 2.

With boyhood hero Peter Manfredo Jr. looking on, Will Guilmette destroyed Tymar Miles (0-6) in his highly anticipated debut, dropping the New Yorker 3 times for a first-round knockout. The Coventry native wasted little time in making a statement, dropping Miles seconds into the fight with a left hook.  Miles beat the count, but a right to the body put him back on the canvas.  The New Yorker rose to his feet again, but the follow up assault dropped him a third time, causing referee Bryan Miner to halt the bout at 1:08 of round 1.

In an all-out war, Victor Reynoso (11-0, 7 KOs), of Providence, RI, outslugged Florida’s Chris Puryear (5-3) over 6 vicious rounds.  Reynoso launched a sneaky counter right uppercut in round 3 that dropped Puryear to his knees.  The Floridian beat the count and responded by launching his own attack in round 4, stunning Reynoso with an overhand right.  The pugilists continued to trade punches in rounds 5 and 6 before a massive right hand dropped Puryear a second time.  Puryear again beat the count, and the bloody fighters resumed trading power shots until the final bell.  Scores were 58-54 (3x).

Someone’s ‘0’ had to go when unbeaten middleweights Douglas Marroquin (6-0, 3 KOs) and Tremaine Jones (3-1, 3 KOs) collided in a 4-round slugfest.  Marroquin, a Guatemalan and Mexican fighter based in Stamford, CT, slowly broke down Jones, launching a body assault in round 1 and walking down his taller opponent behind intelligent pressure and short shots beginning in round 2.  Marroquin hit paydirt in round 3, staggering the Louisiana native with a huge right hand to the head and following up with a relentless assault.  A right to the body doubled Jones over, but he bravely absorbed the shot and survived to see the final bell.  Scores were 40-36 (3x).

Joseph Chisholm (5-0, 5 KOs) continued his string of first round knockouts, blasting out Markist Taylor (1-2) in quick succession. "J-Elite" was too much for Taylor, landing a 3-punch combination punctuated by a right hand to the body that dropped the St. Louis native for the count.  Time of the stoppage was 1:09 of round 1.

New Haven, CT’s Carlos Perez (4-0) kept his perfect record intact, pounding out a 4-round decision over Florida’s Shaquille Rushing (0-4-1).  After 2 competitive rounds, "Carlito’s Way" took control of the fight, landing 3 and 4 punch combinations to Grant’s head and body to secure the jr. welterweight bout by scores of 40-36 (3x).

Kevante Wineglass (2-0, 1 KO) picked up his first knockout, detonating a huge right hand to the head to drop debuting LaTraveon Grant (0-1) in round 2 of their jr. welterweight bout.  Grant survived the round, but the bout was stopped after round 3 on the doctor’s recommendation.

In his pro debut, Norwalk, CT based Venezuelan Victor Guerra (1-0, 1 KO) knocked out Lucien Hannah (0-4) in 3 rounds of their jr. middleweight scrap.  The boxers took turns hurting one another with right hands in round 3, Hannah early in the round and Guerra towards the end.  Guerra, of Wilmer Mendez Boxing, took advantage of his hurt opponent, following up with a two-fisted assault to the head and body that had the exhausted Hannah reeling. The New Yorker wisely chose not to continue after round 3.

David Marshall Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut a successful one, stopping Gabriel Costa (4-9-1, 4 KOs) in round 2 of their heavyweight bout. "Marshall Law" stunned Costa with a right hand in round 1. The Bristol, RI native dropped Costa twice in round 2, the first with a blistering left hook to the body, and the second with a heavy left hook to the head that convinced referee Harvey Dock to wave off the bout at 2:25 of round 2.

For more information about ‘Championship Jackpot 2025’ and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION

About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton"

Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 9, 2025 at 17:49 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH GIOVANNI SOTO, 34, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment.

During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses.

Joseph Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. On that date, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of his residence and seized two loaded firearms, a drum magazine, ammunition, body armor, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging material, and approximately $12,000 in cash. One of the seized firearms was fitted with a switch making it fully automatic, and investigators also found a second, uninstalled switch. A search of Ramon Soto’s residence on that date revealed a loaded Ruger handgun, firearm magazines, ammunition, two money counters, a digital scale with cocaine residue, and more than $1,000 in cash.

On February 7, 2025, Joseph Soto pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on June 25.

Ramon Soto pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on January 8, 2025, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 17:44 in NEWS

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 5 in Connecticut

The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims – especially child victims – and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

As part of Operation Restore Justice, the following five individuals were charged in the District of Connecticut with federal child exploitation crimes:

STEVEN TAYLOR, 52, of Hartford, has been charged by indictment with production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, Taylor used his smartphone and other devices to record sexually explicit videos and images of a minor female. Searches of the devices revealed more than 2,300 sexually explicit images and videos of prepubescent minors. Taylor was arrested on related state charges on October 24, 2024. On May 1, 2025, he appeared in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. He has been detained since his arrest.

RYAN PERRY, 39, of East Hartford, has been charged by criminal complaint with transportation, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. As alleged in court documents, in January 2025, Perry, who was on state probation for prior child exploitation offenses, was arrested for probation violations stemming from a 2024 home visit. A separate federal investigation identified Perry as a possible user of a darknet site where child pornography was uploaded and shared. In April 2025, analysis of a hard drive seized from Perry revealed approximately 2,900 images and videos of child sex abuse material. Perry was arrested federally on April 29, 2025, and is detained.

STEPHEN DICKSON, 47, of Colchester, has been charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. As alleged in court documents, in September 2023, Dickson communicated on Kik Messenger with an FBI Online Covert Employee who was posing as the stepfather of a 14-year-old girl in Connecticut. During the communications, Dickson expressed a desire and willingness to engage in sexual activity with the fictitious girl. On September 22, 2023, Dickson was arrested and charged with state offenses after he traveled to a hotel in Wallingford to engage in sexual activity with the “girl.” Subsequent analysis of computers, hard drives, and a smartphone seized from Dickson revealed several hundred images and videos of suspected child pornography, and dozens of images of female children, likely downloaded from social media sites such as Facebook, that were digitally-manipulated to remove clothing in order to create child pornography. Dickson was arrested federally on May 1, 2025, and is released on a $150,000 bond.

JOSHUA BAILEY, 45, of Milford, and ELIZABETH JORDAN, 42, of West Haven, have been charged by criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of child pornography, transmission of a live visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, and conspiracy to do so. As alleged in court documents, on March 12, 2024, Jordan engaged in sexual activity with a minor who was 17 and livestreamed the activity to Bailey using Facebook messenger. A subsequent search of Bailey’s phone revealed a series of screenshots of Jordan and the minor engaged in sexual activity. Bailey and Jordan have been detained since August 2024 when they were arrested for related state offenses. Bailey appeared in New Haven federal court on April 29 and Jordan appeared in New Haven federal court yesterday.

“The Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office has long been committed to protecting children by swiftly and vigorously prosecuting offenders,” said Marc H. Silverman, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. “Sex offenders continue to find new and evolving means to commit their crimes, including using social media and messaging applications to gain access to children, and, as noted specifically in one case we are pursuing, using an AI program to digitally convert real images to create child pornography. I thank our FBI colleagues, and all the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies focusing on this important effort, for staying ahead of the technology curve to investigate child exploitation crimes and apprehend these predators.”

“At FBI New Haven, protecting children is one of our most vital duties,” said Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Our Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force works in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners to stop those who prey on our most vulnerable. Here in Connecticut, the FBI actively disrupts violent online extremist groups, sex trafficking rings, sextortionists, and other destructive criminal activity. We do this work in partnership with the community to ensure child victims are identified and receive the care they need. Whether these threats come from the real world or a digital one, the FBI will fight day and night to protect all children. We will never stop in our pursuit to find and arrest those responsible for these heinous acts.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, Virginia, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, New York.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, by calling your local FBI field office, or by visiting www.cybertipli

Gang Member Sentenced for Obstructing Justice

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 0:47 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

JAMES GRAHAM, also known as “Little Cuz,” 25, formerly of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for an offense stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.

Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Graham and 15 other 960 gang members with various offenses, including racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

On November 22, 2017, 960 members Zaekwon McDaniel, Tahjay Love, and Malik Bayon shot at Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos who were in a car at a restaurant in Waterbury. Lewis sped from the scene at a high-rate of speed and crashed into a house at the intersection of Wolcott Street and Dallas Avenue in Waterbury. Lewis, 22, and Santos, 20, were pronounced dead at the scene. On October 19, 2019, Graham and Love, who were incarcerated in state custody, assaulted another inmate who they believed had reported to law enforcement Love’s role in the shooting.

On February 14, 2024, a jury found Graham guilty of obstruction of justice, and Love, McDaniel, Bayon guilty of offenses related to their participation in 960 and the deaths of Lewis and Santos.

Graham is currently serving a 52-year state sentence for murder, robbery, and firearm offenses related to his role in the murder of an 18-year-old victim in Hamden on November 13, 2017. Judge Dooley ordered Graham’s federal sentence to run concurrently with his state sentence.

Love, McDaniel, and Bayon await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, who were cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

###

New Haven Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 0:42 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRICK WARREN, 31, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm possession and drug distribution offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2023, after a short pursuit, New Haven Police arrested Warren for violating conditions of his state probation that followed a felony firearm conviction. During the pursuit, officers saw Warren discard multiple items, later found to be a Glock semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, and bag containing various plastic bags of crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.

Subsequent analysis by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected the seized pistol to shell casings collected after a shooting on Winchester Avenue in New Haven on November 8, 2023, and a shooting on Hazel Street in New Haven on November 12, 2023. It is alleged that text messages from Warren’s phone further connected him to these two shootings, as well as a carjacking, robbery, and shooting on November 10, 2023.

Warren’s criminal history also includes convictions for robbery, drug, and additional firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Warren has been detained since his arrest. On May 14, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

State charges against Warren related to the November 12, 2023, shooting are pending.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 5, 2025 at 14:59 in NEWS

TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS

HARTFORD, Connecticut – State Treasurer Erick Russell released the following statement in support of Pratt & Whitney workers who went on strike earlier today:

"This strike is about respect and not prioritizing profits over people. The machinists of Pratt & Whitney deserve fair wages, benefits, and job security for the vital role they play in Connecticut’s economy and the strength and innovation of our nation’s aerospace industry. I urge the company’s leadership to return to the table and come to a fair resolution.”

Governor Lamont Announces Launch of Connecticut’s e-Apprenticeship System

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 2, 2025 at 20:02 in NEWS

(CROMWELL, CT) – In commemoration of National Apprenticeship Day, Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today participated in the monthly meeting of the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council, where they announced the upcoming launch of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s new e-Apprenticeship system.

Going live on May 1, 2025, the e-Apprenticeship system will bring online the agency’s Registered Apprenticeship Training Program through the e-license system that is already in use by multiple Connecticut state agencies. The system will allow sponsor employers to register new apprentices, update information on their registered apprentices, and pay program fees, all over the internet. Additionally, registered apprentices will be able to use the system to track their progress.

The Registered Apprenticeship Training Program connects employers to registered apprentices, who can receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction, master a trade, and earn while they learn. Thousands of businesses across Connecticut have participated in the program, helping them increase their workforce recruitment and proficiency. Depending on the trade, registered apprenticeship programs may last anywhere between one and four years. Upon completion, registered apprentices receive an industry recognized, portable credential that certifies completion of the program, distinguishes the apprentice as a master of their craft, and makes the apprentice eligible to take any state occupational licensing exams.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 registered apprentices working for approximately 1,800 employers within more than 50 industries in Connecticut.

“Registered apprenticeships are a great way for employers to train and build their workforce, and for workers to receive on-the-job training and master a trade that will benefit them throughout their careers,” Governor Lamont said. “Many businesses have job openings that need to be filled by workers trained with certain sets of skills, and filling those positions through registered apprenticeships is a great way for a company to build that talent and really invest in their workforce. Bringing this program online with the e-Apprenticeship system will make it even easier for businesses and workers to participate.”

“Registered apprenticeships are tried and true training for skilled tradespeople like electricians and welders, and they are a great career pathway for other occupations,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “Over the past several years, employers in industries including childcare, education, health, and cosmetology have participated in apprenticeships to train their next generation workforce. Thanks to support from Governor Lamont, Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program continues to expand and help employers meet their hiring needs.”

“As demand for highly skilled workers increases, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship strategies have proven very successful in meeting both employer and industry need in training, acquiring, and retaining employees,” Todd Berch, director of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, said. “Registered apprenticeships are rigorous and quite distinct from internships or corporate training programs. They must meet high standards of mastery, and registered apprentices put in thousands of hours before completing the program.”

Today’s council meeting was held in Cromwell at Jessica’s Color Room Salon, the first business in the state to offer a cosmetology apprenticeship through the program. The salon’s registered apprentice completed 2,000 training hours over the course of 15 months and is now licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as a hairdresser.

“The Office of Apprenticeship Training helped me identify exactly what we needed to do to prepare and train our registered apprentice,” Jessica Dudley, owner of the salon, said. “It was a good solution to have someone on the job who was also building skills. It also helped me start looking at issues like succession planning and how to expand my business.”

Businesses that want to participate in the program and workers who are interested in becoming a registered apprentice should visit the Office of Apprenticeship Training program’s website at portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/apprenticeships.

The new e-Apprenticeship system can also be accessed through that website when it launches on May 1.

Governor Lamont Announces $10 Million in Grants Awarded for Continued Broadband Expansion

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 22, 2025 at 20:54 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the second round of awards in the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Totaling $9.9 million, these funds will be used by internet service providers to build out broadband infrastructure, which will serve an estimated 3,802 residences and businesses in 44 towns and cities.

The grant awards announced today build on $24 million in grants benefitting 88 cities and towns announced last year in round 1 of this program. Funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program was established to fund the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure designed to support the goal of universal access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. DEEP has made great progress towards awarding funds to advance this work.

To date, with this second round included, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has announced $34 million in awards to support buildouts for:

5,582 locations;
116 cities and towns; and
30 distressed municipalities.

“This is a milestone in the state’s ongoing work to increase access to high-speed broadband for all Connecticut residents,” Governor Lamont said. “Fast, affordable internet connectivity is essential to the success and wellbeing of our residents. Being able to go online and access the internet is tied to nearly every aspect of daily life from paying bills to finding employment and housing and even accessing healthcare.”

“This latest round of grant awards is supporting the vital work of bringing broadband infrastructure to locations with the greatest needs,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Research shows that 92% of jobs require digital skills and 60% of adults get health information online. This effort is critical. It’s about increasing access to vital elements of daily life, and helping to improve health, safety, affordability, and prosperity for the people of Connecticut.”

The grant recipients for the second round of the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program are as follows:

ConneCTed Communities Grant Program April 2025 Grant Round 2
Provisional Awardee	Project Area	Number of Locations in Project Area	Number of Units in Project Area*	Grant Funding
Frontier Communications (d.b.a. Frontier)	Canterbury, Griswold, Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, Sterling, Woodstock	1180	1423	$1,232,486.00
Frontier Communications	Enfield, Granby, Somers, Stafford	164	412	$624,227.00
Frontier Communications	Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield, Morris, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Watertown, Winchester	504	698	$5,076,560.00
Frontier Communications	New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Sherman	105	158	$69,805.00
Frontier Communications	Bridgeport, Darien, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford	153	518	$755,971.00
Frontier Communications	East Haddam, East Lyme, Meriden, Waterford	297	480	$919,205.00
Comcast**	Griswold, Killingly, North Canaan, Voluntown	35	49	$762,295.77
Comcast	Bolton, Burlington, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Guilford, North Haven, Salem, Sharon, Shelton, Wallingford, Watertown	38	64	$540,273.06
A location refers to a specific physical address or site, such as a residential home or apartment building, while units are the individual households or small businesses within that location, meaning one location can contain multiple units. *Project received a match waiver.

For an interactive map of locations awarded in this grant round, click here.

DEEP is also administering the $144 million Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is in the deployment phase now, and will bring broadband to unserved and underserved locations and community anchor institutions.

ConneCTed Communities Funds Still Available

DEEP has approximately $6.7 million remaining in funding available through the ConneCTed Communities Program. Municipalities, community organizations, and internet service providers are eligible to apply. A major focus of this initiative is supporting broadband upgrades in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). To identify MDUs in need of faster, more reliable broadband, DEEP has launched a survey to help with the identification process. Learn more about this effort and take the survey here.

As noted in the 2024 Connecticut Broadband Report, the state has made great strides toward Governor Lamont’s goal of ensuring broadband internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) download and 100 megabits per second (Mbps) upload for all residents. Gigabit-speed broadband is now available to nearly 850,000 locations statewide, up from nearly zero in 2022. The percentage of residential and small business locations lacking basic internet access has dropped from 1.7% in 2022 to just 0.4% in 2024. Efforts to address price and non-price barriers to adoption have helped contribute to a rise in overall internet subscriptions, now covering 92.2% of households.

For more information about the many initiatives supporting broadband expansion in Connecticut, click here.

Governor Lamont Statement on Senate Votes Approving the Nominations of David Arconti and Marissa Gillett as PURA Commissioners

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 16, 2025 at 5:24 in NEWS

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement in response to the votes today in the Connecticut State Senate approving the nominations of David Arconti, Jr. and Marissa Gillett to serve as commissioners of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA):

“I am glad that the Senate agreed that these nominees have the impartial, fair, and skilled qualifications needed to oversee the regulating of Connecticut’s public utility sector. I appreciate the diligence of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee co-chairs, Senator Bob Duff and State Representative Julio Concepcion, in assuring that this nomination process was thorough and professional. Now that these nominees have received final legislative approval, they can focus on their responsibility of carefully and meticulously reviewing every filing from each of our public utilities to ensure that these companies are acting in the best interests of Connecticut’s consumers.

“Connecticut’s ratepayers need relief from the high costs of electricity, and that relief needs to come in the form of a meaningful solution that drives down energy rates over the long term. Over the past year, I have met with representatives of different energy sources – such as wind, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and hydropower – the utilities, experts in energy markets, and officials from the federal government and our neighboring states to find meaningful solutions to our high energy prices. It is clear that this is an issue of supply and demand, requiring cooperation with our regional and national partners. I remain committed to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on the policy solutions needed to have a lasting impact on delivering cheaper energy for the people of Connecticut.”

The House of Representatives approved both nominations last week. Today’s votes by the Senate were the final step in the legislative nomination review process.

Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $77 Million to Municipalities and Organizations for 35 Economic Development Projects

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 11, 2025 at 14:56 in NEWS

Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $77 Million to Municipalities and Organizations for 35 Economic Development Projects

Grants From Sixth Round of the Community Investment Fund Approved by State Bond Commission

4/11/2025

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) today announced that the State Bond Commission has approved the release of approximately $77 million in state funding to support the sixth round of grants under the Community Investment Fund 2030.

This sixth grant round supports 35 economic development projects in 21 towns and cities across Connecticut.

“Through this grant program, we are helping municipalities throughout Connecticut make improvements in underserved areas that will enhance their economic vibrancy and revitalize neighborhoods,” Governor Lamont, chairman of the State Bond Commission, said. “I am glad that we can partner with these towns and cities and other organizations to make these improvements that will drive growth in our state.”

“The Community Investment Fund is one of the most transformative economic development tools we’ve created in recent years,” Senator Looney said. “These grants are targeted investments to uplift underserved communities, assist struggling nonprofit social service organizations, promote equity, and spur long-term economic growth across Connecticut. I am proud to see this funding approved and look forward to its meaningful impact on cities and towns throughout our state.”

“I want to thank Governor Lamont for his continued commitment to this important funding source,” Speaker Ritter said. “Investing in transformational projects can provide a huge boost to nonprofits, communities, and even entire regions of Connecticut.”

The Community Investment Fund was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and Governor Lamont in 2022 to support economic development in historically underserved communities across Connecticut. Eligible projects include capital improvements, such as those focused on affordable housing, brownfield remediation, infrastructure, and public facilities, as well as small business support programs that provide revolving loans, gap financing, microloans, or start-up financing. The program is anticipated to release up to $875 in grants over a five-year period.

The following grants were approved under this round:

Municipality: All Community Investment Fund communities
Grant Recipient: CT Humanities Council
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Cultural Cohort” – Connecticut Humanities has a mission to champion the enduring value of public humanities in our lives and civil society. This planning grant will allow CT Humanities to assess the needs of 560 cultural organizations in the 55 CIF communities.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Green Village Initiatives Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Bridgeport Regional Food Hub” – Green Village Initiative is a nonprofit organization serving Bridgeport focused on addressing systemic inequities in the local food system through urban agriculture, education, and community empowerment. The Bridgeport Regional Food Hub and Community Empowerment Initiative is a planning project to develop a county-wide food hub in Bridgeport.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Mercy Learning Center
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Capital Improvement Planning” – Mercy Learning Center provides basic literacy and life skills training to women with low income using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment. CIF funding would finance specific assessments and plans to address elements that arise from the Organizational Strategic Plan and process prioritizing capital renovations and expansion.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Barnum Museum Foundation
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Barnum Museum Revitalization” – The Barnum Museum, a historic cultural institution in Bridgeport since 1893, provides educational programs, community events, and accessibility initiatives for diverse audiences. It engages thousands of students, families, and seniors through partnerships with schools and local organizations. The proposed project will continue the museum’s restoration, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

Municipality: Danbury
Grant Recipient: City of Danbury
Award Amount: $5,000,000
Description: “Downtown Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future” – The City of Danbury proposes to complete Phase II of the Downtown Danbury’s Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future Project. The project would enhance pedestrian and streetscape features along key streets: Main Street (Route 53) from Boughton Street to Crosby Street, Liberty Street from Main Street to Patriot Drive, Independence Way, White Street from Ives Street to Main Street, a portion of Elm Street, Post Office Walk, and Kennedy Avenue.

Municipality: East Haven
Grant Recipient: Town of East Haven
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Family Resource Center Expansion” – The Town of East Haven proposes to plan for the renovation and expansion of the Family Resource Center to transform it into a comprehensive community hub, including a dynamic recreational area, designed to support local youth and families.

Municipality: East Windsor
Grant Recipient: Housing Corporation of East Windsor
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Park Hill 2 & 3” – The Housing Corporation of East Windsor, a non-profit dedicated to expanding quality affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals in the East Windsor area, plans to develop two vacant parcels adjacent to Park Hill, a senior and disabled apartment community. This project seeks to advance the planning process to prepare the 13-acre site for complimentary development.

Municipality: Enfield
Grant Recipient: Town of Enfield
Award Amount: $10,000,000
Description: “Enfield Marketplace Infrastructure” – The Town of Enfield, in partnership with Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC, will utilize CIF funding to install critical new infrastructure necessary to create a mixed-use development called the Enfield Marketplace.

Municipality: Hamden
Grant Recipient: Transcend the Trend, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Hamden Arts & Learning Oasis (HALO)” – Transcend The Trend (TTT) has a mission to achieve equity in the local education system in and through the arts. The planning grant request is community engagement and a feasibility study to inform architectural and design plans to renovate space on the former Paier College of Art campus into an arts and cultural hub.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: Asylum Hill Congregational Church
Award Amount: $3,789,482
Description: “Earl Exum Community Resource Center” – Asylum Hill Congregational Church offers a range of community programs, including food assistance, youth outreach, educational programs, and resources for low-income individuals and families. AHCC plans to remediate, remodel, and re-purpose the garden level to address identified needs by providing space for existing service providers seeking to establish a more accessible presence in the Asylum Hill neighborhood.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
Award Amount: $1,600,000
Description: “Homestead Acquisition” – The City of Hartford proposes to acquire three properties within the Homestead Redevelopment Corridor between Sigourney and Garden Streets. The city is currently developing a redevelopment plan for the Homestead Corridor. The Homestead Avenue Redevelopment Plan aims to employ a mix of land use strategies to transform this key thoroughfare in the Upper Albany neighborhood.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Talcott Plaza” – The City of Hartford will plan a major redevelopment project to revitalize Downtown Hartford at the Talcott Street Plaza to include mixed-use development that will include the opportunity for a large commercial tenant and expansion to include residential units.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: YWCA Hartford Region, Inc.
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Description: “Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity” – YWCA is committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA proposes HVAC system enhancements as part of renovating its 50-year-old Hartford building to establish The Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Beacon & Walnut Planning” – The Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation focuses on economic development and poverty reduction in Hartford’s Clay Arsenal neighborhood. Its mission is to improve the economic and social conditions of low and moderate-income residents through sustainable initiatives. The CIF Planning Grant will fund predevelopment activities towards transforming two blighted sites into sustainable, mixed-use, transit-oriented developments.

Municipality: Killingly
Grant Recipient: Access Community Action Agency
Award Amount: $4,928,243
Description: “Transforming 254 Broad” – The ACCESS Agency’s mission is to empower under-resourced individuals, families, and communities by improving food security, providing affordable housing, and creating pathways to economic stability. With CIF funding, ACCESS plans to renovate the St. Alban Church at 254 Broad Street to expand offices, upgrade the food pantry, offer the Killingly Community Store, improve access to the emergency shelter and repurpose space into affordable housing.

Municipality: Meriden
Grant Recipient: City of Meriden
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “One Stop HHS Building” – The City of Meriden proposes to perform planning for the renovation and modernization of the Stoddard Municipal Building at 165 Miller Street, transforming it into a “one stop” facility for human services.

Municipality: Naugatuck
Grant Recipient: Borough of Naugatuck
Award Amount: $3,000,000
Description: “Industrial Park Phase 2” – Located in the Naugatuck Industrial Park III, Phase 2 will construct temporary and permanent access roads, including streetscaping and utilities in the public-right-of-way, allowing lot access for end users, as well as connection to utilities.

Municipality: New Britain
Grant Recipient: City of New Britain
Award Amount: $1,796,974
Description: “Mount Pleasant – Myrtle Street Corridor” – The City of New Britain proposes a multi-phased project that will replace 251 obsolete public housing units with approximately 330 mixed-income housing of choice units and appurtenant community space. The project will contain new roads and infrastructure that will connect the isolated community back to the broader neighborhood, as well as fostering connectivity to the greater metropolitan area.

Municipality: New Britain
Grant Recipient: Friendship Service Center
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Emergency Shelter Expansion” – Friendship Service Center provides services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Central Connecticut. Friendship Service Center seeks funding to renovate its facility including reconfiguring bedrooms to increase emergency shelter capacity from 5 to 16 rooms, upgrading the community kitchen and dining room, and expanding the parking lot.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: United Way of Greater New Haven
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “State and Chapel” – United Way of Greater New Haven works to address pressing local challenges in education, safe housing, food security, career development, financial education, and other essential services. United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with Beacon Communities and Columbus House, will utilize CIF support State and Chapel, a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing project in downtown New Haven.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Mary Wade Foundation
Award Amount: $700,000
Description: “Residential Care Home Modernization” – The Mary Wade Home is a senior care organization serving low-income seniors (65+) in Greater New Haven, providing a full continuum of medical and social support. Mary Wade Home will utilize CIF funding to further plans for a major renovation and expansion of the Boardman Residential Care Home to address safety concerns and improve living conditions.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Greater Dwight Development
Award Amount: $6,121,390
Description: “Community Building Initiative” – Greater Dwight Development Corporation works to lead projects that address drugs, gang violence, economic development, employment, housing, and education. Greater Dwight Development will use CIF funds to implement Phase 2 of its Greater Dwight Community Building Initiative, creating 11 units of affordable housing and community space for the local nonprofit and community-based organizations across two properties in the Dwight neighborhood.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Mount Hope Temple
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Mount Hope Temple Renovation Planning” – The Mount Hope Temple Church currently operates the Mount Hope Recovery Center Food Pantry. The grant will allow the church/food pantry to take steps towards increasing the number of families it serves per month, expanding to more of Greater New Haven, and operating a cooling/warming shelter for the homeless.

Municipality: New London
Grant Recipient: City of New London
Award Amount: $4,000,000
Description: “Mercer Community Hall” – The City of New London, in partnership with the Garde Arts Center, Inc., seeks to enhance community engagement and accessibility through the arts. The project includes renovation and expansion of the Mercer Community Hall, located at a downtown intersection near New London’s transit hub, to offer affordable event space, support arts and workforce opportunities, and retain activities within the city.

Municipality: New London
Grant Recipient: Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Award Amount: $2,020,096
Description: “New London Relocation” – PPSNE health centers promote the availability of high-quality family planning and reproductive services. PPSNE proposes to use CIF funds to renovate and expand the property at 467 Ocean Avenue in New London to become the new home of PPSNE’s New London health center.

Municipality: Norwalk
Grant Recipient: Open Door Shelter, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Campus Expansion Project” – The mission of Open Doors is to end homelessness in the greater Norwalk region by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness toward housing stability. Open Doors intends to develop a plan to expand its operations within the South Norwalk neighborhood by assessing its existing housing portfolio and exploring the acquisition of abutting properties.

Municipality: Norwalk
Grant Recipient: Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Description: “Glover Ave Spur” – The Norwalk River Valley Trail is a recreational and transportation amenity in Norwalk and once completed will run from Danbury to Norwalk. This project proposes the completion of the Norwalk section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail.

Municipality: Norwich
Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
Award Amount: $4,899,600
Description: “Fontaine Field & Senior Center” – The City of Norwich will reconstruct Fontaine Field including replacing the existing field with a synthetic turf option, adding spectator stands, enlarging the parking area, and improving accessibility from the Rose City Senior Center.

Municipality: Norwich
Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Gateway Norwich” – The City of Norwich proposes to reimagine the city’s portion of the former Norwich State Hospital, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a gateway to the city from the south, the potential exists to create a community-driven place that works in synergy with the proposed Preston Riverwalk development to be constructed by the Mohegan Tribe on the Preston section of the Norwich State Hospital.

Municipality: Plainfield
Grant Recipient: Town of Plainfield
Award Amount: $8,000,000
Description: “InterRoyal Remediation” – The Town of Plainfield proposes remediation of the former InterRoyal mill site, an abandoned brownfield site. The project will be approached in phases, including selective building demolition, abatement, and remediation. The town and partners plan to redevelop the site into a mixed-use community.

Municipality: Stamford
Grant Recipient: Rippowam Corporation
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Oak Park Phase II” – Rippowam Corporation is the nonprofit development and asset management affiliate of the Housing Authority of the City of Stamford. Rippowam Corporation is requesting funding for the second of three planned phases to redevelop Oak Park, located on the East Side of Stamford, to rebuild to avoid areas of chronic flooding and to ensure accessibility for residents.

Municipality: Waterbury
Grant Recipient: City of Waterbury
Award Amount: $4,000,000
Description: “Phase 3 Downtown Utilities” – The City of Waterbury proposes to further the Downtown Streetscape and Utility Improvements Project on West Main Street. This project aims to address Waterbury’s aging infrastructure, fostering long-term economic growth and promoting energy and environmental justice.

Municipality: West Haven
Grant Recipient: City of West Haven
Award Amount: $1,800,000
Description: “VA Neighborhood Upgrades” – The City of West Haven proposes to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Upgrades will be transit-oriented and include traffic calming, pedestrian safety and accessibility, and paving several roads/sidewalks in disrepair.

Municipality: Windham
Grant Recipient: Windham Preservation, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Windham Inn Adaptive Re-use” – The Windham Preservation Initiative is focused on restoring and repurposing the historic Windham Inn as housing with potential first-floor community flex space, addressing Connecticut’s housing shortage while preserving a cultural landmark. CIF funding will support pre-construction planning.

Municipality: Windsor
Grant Recipient: Capital Region Education Council
Award Amount: $1,244,152
Description: “River Street School” – The Capitol Region Education Council is one of six Regional Educational Service Centers in Connecticut. RESC are designed to support the instructional and operational needs of Connecticut's public school. CREC will renovate the River Street School in Windsor, a specialized educational and therapeutic facility serving students with autism spectrum disorder.

For more information about the Community Investment Fund, visit portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund.

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Governor Lamont Statement on President Trump’s Order To Begin Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 21, 2025 at 18:52 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding the executive order signed by President Donald Trump directing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education:

“The president’s executive order threatens the strength and stability of our public schools by undermining the federal government’s role in supporting education. Programs like Title I, IDEA, Pell Grants, and Impact Aid are essential to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their family’s income. These investments help level the playing field, providing critical resources for low-income students, funding mental health and school safety initiatives, and guaranteeing services for students with disabilities.

“At a time when other nations are expanding their commitment to education to build a stronger, more competitive workforce, we must ensure that our schools have the resources they need to prepare students for the future. Republicans in Congress must stand up for our students and ensure that these essential programs endure. The success of our children, educators, and economy depends on it.”

Grants From Sixth Round of the Community Investment Fund Approved by State Bond Commission

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