Dear Friends, 

As your representative in Washington, it is my responsibility to fight for federal resources to support local projects that create opportunities for residents. Over the last few weeks, I have traveled across the First District to announce new funding that will support our veterans, invest in job training, and improve access to housing in our urban and rural communities.   

Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable housing, yet far too often, our veterans return from service and struggle to secure employment and housing. I secured $1 million in Congress for the Winsted Health Center to support the needs of Northwestern Connecticut’s veterans. This project will provide a total of 40 quality, affordable housing units for veterans in Litchfield County and an on-site veterans clinic, medical offices, and job training space.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, State Rep. Jay Case, Winchester Town Manager Paul Harrington, Mayor Todd Arcelaschi, Winsted Health Center Executive Director Kris Griffin, State Senator Stephen Harding, Project Development Team Leader Vance Taylor, and Rep. Larson

On Tuesday, I also met with Mayor Todd Arcelaschi and Fire Chief Jamie Lagassie to discuss community efforts to centralize fire operations in Winchester. I worked with Senators Blumenthal and Murphy to secure almost $2 million in federal funds to upgrade Winsted's Elm Street Fire House, as well as a $535,000 grant to purchase new breathing apparatuses for firefighters and fund vital training exercises.

Rep. Larson, Senator Blumenthal, Winsted Fire Chief Jamie Lagassie, and Mayor Todd Arcelaschi   

Due to a variety of economic factors, Latinos have significantly lower household wealth and savings compared to non-Hispanic white Americans. I announced $650,000 in new federal funding for the Hispanic Federation to launch multilingual, multi-generational financial literacy workshops and services in Hartford, so everyone has the tools they need to pursue economic opportunity.

International Hartford Executive Director Art Feltman, Village President & CEO Hector Glynn, Capitol Squash Deputy Director Lindsay Behling, Hartford City Councilman Amilcar Hernandez, Rep. Larson, International Hartford Financial Literacy Project Director Erwin T. Hurst, and Hispanic Federation staff  

Dangerous toxins like lead are still commonly found in homes and apartments. More than 1,000 Connecticut children are negatively impacted by lead exposure annually. I joined Governor Lamont and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam to announce over $4 million in federal funding for Hartford Housing Authority to reduce health hazards in public housing, including lead-based paint.

Governor Ned Lamont, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Monocchio, Hartford Housing Authority Executive Director Annette Sanderson, and local officials with Rep. Larson  

I visited CT State Community College Manchester to announce funding from the National Endowment for the Arts for two local organizations. Community Partners in Action was awarded $130,000 to expand their Prison Arts Program that works to positively transform the lives of all those living and working inside state prisons through the arts. HartBeat Ensemble, Inc. was awarded $100,000 to develop their storytelling program into an earned income venture that integrates theater into local civic community partnerships.  

Manchester Mayor Jay Moran, CT State Community College Manchester CEO Dr. Nicole C. Esposito, Rep. Larson, HartBeat Ensemble Artistic Director Godfrey L. Simmons Jr., Community Partners in Action Executive Director Beth Hines and Prison Arts Program Manager Jeffrey Greene

I will continue my efforts to secure federal funding that supports the needs of Connecticut’s First Congressional District. To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.     

Regards,

John B. Larson
Member of Congress