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Dear Friend,
It has been a packed week in eastern Connecticut. I'm here with an update on career pathways for students in Thompson, a grant to support beginning farmers, and more from the week. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
A Ground Breaking Career Pathways Program for Thompson Students
In Thompson, I met with students and teachers in Tourtellotte Memorial High School’s ground-breaking Career Pathways program. Tourtellotte is Thompson's comprehensive public high school. The program offers students a pathway to get certified as nurse's aides, EMTS, metal trades, and culinary arts. Through partnerships with Day Kimball Hospital, Electric Boat, and local EMS, the school created an innovative curriculum which has been very successful and which they plan to expand in fall 2024.
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Introducing "Career Pathways" in comprehensive high school curriculum wisely provides students with a choice to pursue in-demand skills for high-quality careers after graduation. Kudos to superintended Melinda Smith, Principal Nathaniel Mayo, and the whole team of instructors to open these opportunities for the students in Thompson. Thank you also to Tourtellotte seniors Jordan Butler and Robert Miner who led our tour of the four pathway programs, enthusiastically describing their own positive participation!
To meet growing interest from students and families, and hiring needs from local employers, Congress must boost investment into the Department of Education's Career and Technical Education grant program. Last year, we increased funding for CTE grants in, and in the ongoing talks over the 2024 budget, I’m working to secure another increase.
The Infrastructure Law Delivers Funding for West Thompson Lake Projects
Whether you are visiting for hiking, camping, fishing, disc golf, or another activity, West Thompson Lake is a recreation hub for northeastern CT. The Infrastructure Law is funding improvements to the lake that will help ensure it remains accessible.
On Wednesday, I visited the Army Corps of Engineers with First Selectman Amy St. Onge to see the newly improved boat launch and hear work on their agenda to upgrade three hydraulic gates in the West Thompson Dam. The gates are housed in the dam building and are overdue for replacement. They do a critical job regulating the flow the Quinebaug River, expertly operated by the Army Corps Colonel Justin Pabis, District Commander of the New England District Office. Ed Greenough, Project Manager from the Crops, gave us a thorough brief on the new construction which they will complete in 2024.
After visiting the gatehouse, we traveled to the upgraded boat launch which re-opened last month after construction. Using Infrastructure Law funds, the Army Corps repaved deteriorating concrete, added five new parking spots for boat trailers, and addressed drainage issues.
The West Thompson Dam was built on the Quinebaug River in 1965 following the devastating 1955 flood. Nationwide, the Army Corps’ Flood Risk Management program has received $2.5 billion from the Infrastructure Law for projects to improve resiliency of dams, floodwalls, and levees.
New Financial Support Available for Homeowners Affected by Crumbling Foundations
Welcome relief for homeowners affected by crumbling concrete foundations. This week, using federal funds I secured as a "Community Project", the Capital Regional Council of Government launched a new Crumbling Foundations Remediation and Restoration program to help homeowners cover costs associated with repairing damages caused by pyrrhotite. This is the first time federal funding will be provided directly to homeowners for crumbling foundations repairs.
Click here to learn more about the program. Applications are now open.
The financial assistance for homeowners is made possible by Community Project funding I secured in the 2022 federal budget. After passage, the funds finally arrived in recent weeks. With this funding, the Capital Region Council of Governments, working closely with CFSIC, will use these funds to help homeowners impacted by pyrrhotite cover costs not covered by CFSIC.
Since the crumbling foundations crisis showed its face, my office has worked non-stop to find solutions and deliver support for affected communities. Securing federal funding for this program was a top priority of mine, and I’m grateful for Capital Regional Council of Government’s commitment to providing another avenue of financial assistance for homeowners across the region. Our work continues to help homeowners who have already completed crumbling foundations repairs.
A Family-Owned Dairy Farm Adopts Sustainable Operations
We recently announced $12 million in federal grant funding for Long Island Sound conservation projects. Importantly, this funding goes upstream to help our farmers prevent waste from entering the watershed. Last week, EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash and I visited one of the grant recipients, Valley View Farm in North Stonington.
The multi-generational dairy farm has been owned by the brothers Ben and Tim Learned and their parents Ed and Belinda since 2006. They will use the funds to build a roofed facility for 240 cows – eliminating open-air feed lots and preventing the flow of 6,532 pounds of nitrogen and 1,410 pounds of phosphorus into local waterways and the Long Island Sound.
Thank you to the Learned family for showing us how they're embracing innovation and new technology to reduce waste run off while at the same time creating sustainable operations.
Helping Young Farmers Launch Their Business
In 2023, I’ve continued to work with eastern Connecticut farmers to make careers in agriculture accessible to young people. Yesterday, I visited UConn Extension's office in Storrs. The school's College of Agriculture recently received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help beginning farmers expand and strengthen their business operations. The grant will allow UConn help farmers build business management and farm operation skills and ensure they have the tools to withstand setbacks like the flooding many farmers faced this year.
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With this grant funding, UConn also aims to address farmland access needs for beginning farmers. I’ve heard from eastern Connecticut farmers about the serious challenges they faced acquiring land to launch their careers, and earlier this year, I introduced the bipartisan Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act to address this. The bill would better enable the Department of Agriculture to support young and beginning farmers in acquiring land for food production.
Thank you to Dean of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources Dr. Indrajeet Chaubey, CT Department of Agriculture Brian Hurlburt, Connecticut and Rhode Island Director at the Department of Agriculture Tricia Anderson, and others for joining me to discuss this important grant for young farmers in eastern Connecticut.
Answering Student Questions at EO Smith High School
On Tuesday, I visited EO Smith High School in Mansfield to meet with students and field questions on their issues and concerns. We discussed the need to lower the cost of higher education for young people, progress on climate change with expansion of renewable energy, and the importance of political participation as they reach voting age.
Celebrating Selectman Jerry Grabarek's 50 Years of Public Service
This week, I had the pleasure to celebrate Selectman Jerry Grabarek's 50 years of service for Preston.
It’s been an honor working with Jerry for over three decades on federal and state issues, particularly the Norwich State Hospital cleanup and dairy farming. He has always been a reliable partner and fierce advocate for the Preston community. We’re blessed to have him still working in eastern CT and inspiring others to serve for the right reasons.
Thank you for taking some time to read my update. If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139.
I hope you and your family have a happy and relaxing Christmas. May your days be filled with peace, joy, and loved ones.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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