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Dear Friend,
It’s been a packed week in eastern Connecticut, and I’m here with an update on an exciting infrastructure project for the Air Line Trail, American Rescue Plan funds keeping kids fed, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
New Federal Funding for a Boardwalk on the Air Line Trail
Whether you’re on foot, bike, or horse, the Air Line Trail is one of the best ways to get out and enjoy eastern Connecticut’s beautiful natural landscape. It draws thousands of visitors each year – for short trips or to rack up the miles across the state. That’s a lot of activity for our towns, and last year, I worked together with East Hampton to secure federal funding to complete the trail’s last remaining gap. With $1.4 million in federal Community Project Request funding, East Hampton will build a wooden boardwalk to carry the trail over a stream. Now that the funding has been signed into law as part of the 2023 government funding package, I visited the Air Line Trail in East Hampton to catch up on the project with East Hampton Town Manager David Cox and Director of Parks and Recreation Jeremy Hall. They’ve worked for years to make this project a reality.
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| On Monday, Rep. Courtney visited East Hampton to walk along the Air Line Trail and receive an update from Town Manager David Cox and their project to build a new wooden boardwalk to fill a trail gap. They were joined by East Hampton Director of Parks and Recreation Jeremy Hall, CT DEEP Trails and Greenways Program Coordinator Kim Bradley, and Kevin Grindle of engineering and architecture firm Barton & Loguidice |
There are plenty of large-scale infrastructure projects underway in eastern Connecticut, but smaller ones like this also provide huge benefits to local communities and bring in visitors from across our region. This is a targeted investment that will pay dividends for East Hampton’s economy, and that is really what the Community Project funding process is all about.
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| The new wooden boardwalk will be 1,800 ft long and carry the trail over a stream in East Hampton |
The Air Line Trail is one of two trails in our state that connects us to the East Coast Greenway. With its reach, it’s no wonder there's such wide support for this project. The high cost of constructing the boardwalk put it outside of East Hampton’s town budget, but now with this federal funding, work will finally get underway. A big thanks to Town Manager Cox for showing me the area where they will construct the new boardwalk. This project is 1 of 15 Community Projects across Connecticut's Second District that I secured funding for in the 2023 government funding package. Click here to read more about each one.
The American Rescue Plan Continues to Deliver: Free School Meals & a Community Pool Replacement in Vernon
Two great stories from Vernon this week – both fueled by resources straight from the American Rescue Plan which I voted to help pass in March 2021. On Thursday, I stopped by lunch period at Vernon Central Middle School to discuss the recently announced extension of our state’s universal free school meals program and see firsthand how it’s benefiting students in the Second District.
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| On Wednesday, Rep. Courtney visited Vernon Central Middle School to meet with VPS Superintendent Dr. Joseph Macary and speak with students about the school's free school meals program which is made possible by American Rescue Plan funding |
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I helped to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which provided federal funding to ensure every student in Connecticut schools had access to the nutritious meals they needed to learn in the classroom. The program was set to expire this year, but in February, the Connecticut General Assembly made the right call by voting to extend it through the rest of the 2022-23 school year with $60 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding. Students in Vernon and throughout the state are now receiving one breakfast and one lunch per day at no cost to parents through June 30th. Vernon Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Macary and VPS Director of Food and Nutrition Elizebeth Fisher showed me around Vernon Central Middle School cafeteria, and I had the chance to speak with students about how important these lunches were to their education and wellbeing. Thanks to the students for speaking with me and to all the faculty at Vernon Central Middle School for welcoming me yesterday.
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| Rep. Courtney joined VPS Director of Food and Nutrition Elizabeth Fisher (left) to learn more about how the school district in implementing the free meals program. |
Earlier this week, the Vernon Town Council voted to use $1.25 million in American Rescue plan funding to replace the Horowitz Pool with a new, high-quality and high-capacity pool. As a Vernon resident and the town’s Representative in Congress, I’m extremely pleased to see the town move forward with this project. Both of my children learned to swim at the Horowitz pool, and like so many other parents in Vernon, I was concerned that access to a swimming pool might be curtailed due to aging infrastructure at Henry Park. Now, thanks funding straight from the law Congress passed two years ago, The Horowitz pool will remain open for future generations.
After impressive due diligence by the Town Council staff to incorporate cost effective new technology into the project, a clear presentation by contractor Juliano’s Pools, and grassroots efforts by community members, the funding allocation by the Town Council enjoyed universal bipartisan support. It’s also important to note that this usage of funds fits perfectly with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The American Rescue Plan provided our town’s with much-need boosts to their local budgets during the pandemic – Vernon has received over $8.6 million in ARP resources – and they continue to be allocated in smart ways that will strengthen healthy, vibrant communities.
Tax Assistance is Available
Tax season is here and there are helpful resources available to Connecticut residents. Yesterday, I visited the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) center at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield. VITA is a federal program which offers free tax return filing help to people at low-to-moderate levels of income. In Enfield, volunteers are working hard over the next for weeks to provide much needed support to seniors, people with disabilities, and others who are unable to prepare their own returns. To expand their services in Enfield, the VITA center at Ansuntuck Community College will begin special Saturday hours starting tomorrow from 9am-4pm. Eligible residents can stop by for in-person assistance. Thanks to the VITA volunteers in Enfield for taking time to update me on their crucial public service this tax season. This center has been serving people in Enfield for over 40 years!
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On Thursday, Rep. Courtney visited the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance center at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield. The center is providing free tax filing assistance for qualifying residents. Rep. Courtney met with volunteer tax preparers who are working hard for people in Enfield, including Nick Lefakis (center) who started VITA in Enfield 40+ years ago, Kelli Stener (center left) Bill Searle (left). They were joined by Asnuntuck CEO Dr. Michelle Coach (center right) CT State Community College President Dr. John Moduko and others.
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The deadline to file tax returns is April 18th. Click here to learn more about VITA centers, find a location near you, and prepare what you will need before stopping by for assistance. Click here for more tax return filing resources. For questions about working with IRS, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139.
Celebrating Autism Awareness Month
April is Autism Awareness Month, and to celebrate on Monday, I visited George Hersey Robertson School in Coventry where I meet with parents, faculty, and some really inspiring kids who shared their experiences with autism. This month is a time for us to learn more about autism so we can better understand the challenges people with the spectrum disorder face and also the great contributions they make to our communities. On Monday, 4th-grader Joseph Bauch presented an excellent informative video he and his family. Click here to watch!
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| On Monday, Rep. Courtney visited George Hersey Robertson School in Coventry to celebrate Autism Awareness Month with Coventry Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Petrone, Director of Pupil Services Dr. Beth Giller, George Hersey Robertson School Principal Jennifer DeRagon, teachers Sarah Nielsen and Kaitlyn Timreck, Autism Speaks Advocate Elizabeth Bauch and her two children Jennifer and Joseph |
Young students with autism overcome unique challenges every day. We’ve got to provide families and schools with the resources they need for these kids to achieve success – and that includes boosting our investment into autism research. Big thanks to Coventry Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Petrone, Director of Pupil Services Dr. Beth Giller, George Hersey Robertson School Principal Jennifer DeRagon, teachers Sarah Nielsen and Kaitlyn Timreck, Autism Speaks Advocate Elizabeth Bauch and her two children Jennifer and Joseph for welcoming me.
An Update on Dredging in Clinton
Upgrading water infrastructure is a top priority for towns along the shoreline. Harbors and waterways play host to lots of boating activity and are pillars of local economies, including many small businesses. This week, I visited the Clinton Town Hall to catch up on needed dredging work. Last year, after hearing concerns from officials and boaters about narrowing waterways and wave shoaling in the harbor, I urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide Clinton with the support it needed to tackle its dredging needs. Last month, the Army Corps followed suit and announced it plans to invest $1 million to conduct initial high priority dredging work – addressing “hot spots” and safety issues as soon as possible and later allocating funding for the full needed dredge.
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| On Wednesday, Rep. Courtney visited Clinton to discuss the town's need for dredging work and the recently announced plan by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct initial, high-priority dredging. Rep. Courtney was joined by Clinton Town Manager Karl Kilduff (right), Cedar Island Marina President and Owner Jeffrey Shapiro (center), and General Manager Kristopher Shapiro (left) |
Dredging might not be flashy, but it’s critical for our maritime economy and boater safety. My team and I keep in close touch with Clinton officials and the Cedar Island Marina. We’ve worked together for years to ensure they get the support they need to take on critical dredging projects. When debris are cleared and waterways are widened, it really has widespread positive effects on the area’s local economy. Dredging work in the Clinton Harbor is expected to begin in the early summer of 2024, but the Army Corps is looking for the earliest opportunity to bring its dredging ship the MURDEN to Clinton. I’ll keep up my work to see the full dredge in Clinton harbor completed as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out my Norwich office for updates on this project.
Thanks for taking some time to ready my update. If we can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139. Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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