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Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Washington, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on the new Colchester Senior Center, workforce training in northeast Connecticut, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Touring the New Colchester Senior Center
The new Colchester Senior Center is years in the making. It's nearly complete, and on Monday, I visited for a tour with Senior Center Building Committee Chairman Tony Tarnowski, Vice Chair Marilynn Turner, First Selectman Bernie Dennler, Board of Selectman Liaison Rosemary Coyle, and Senior Center Director Patty Watts.
So many local officials have worked diligently over the years to make the new Colchester Senior Center a reality, including my former District Director and Colchester First Selectwoman Jenny Contois.
State Senator Norm Needleman and former State Rep. Brian Smith diligently secured state bond funding for the project, and $32,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funding was used for HVAC equipment which will lower the center's energy consumption and provide clean, filtered air throughout the building.
The Senior Center's grand opening will take place on December 18th. Congratulations to Colchester on reaching this exciting moment for the town's seniors!
Joining WINY Radio to Discuss Workforce Training
Good-paying manufacturing jobs are in high-demand across eastern Connecticut, and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at CT State Community College-Quinebaug Valley offers students and workers the pathway to get there.
The QVCC Manufacturing Center is equipped with the latest "advanced manufacturing" technology that ensures graduates are job-ready for area employers. QVCC prides itself on designing curriculum that is relevant to the 21st century labor market.
This week, Steve LaPointe, the Center’s terrific director, and I joined WINY Radio to discuss these excellent manufacturing programs.
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| On Monday, Rep. Courtney called in WINY Radio to join QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center Director Steve LaPointe. |
Following one or two-year cost-free certificate programs, 95 percent of QVCC’s manufacturing graduates land a rewarding career in their field with starting wages of $20-25 per hour with benefits and opportunities for rapid promotion. There’s no question QVCC is an outstanding resource for our community to up-skill and reap the rewards of a good, middle-class career. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to Steve at [email protected].
Federal Support for the East Haddam Fire Department
Since Congress created the Assistance for Firefighters Grant program after 9/11, our local fire departments have used federal funding from the program to make critical upgrades. On Monday, I visited the East Haddam Fire Department, which has recently used the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grants to purchase a new fire truck, an upgraded communications system, and new protective gear. Deputy Chief Ray Swol briefed me and Connecticut State Senator Norm Needleman on how these upgrades will support their mission.
In 2024, seven fire departments in eastern Connecticut were awarded Assistance for Firefighters Grants. And in May, as a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I voted to pass a five-year reauthorization of the program through the Fire Grants Safety Act. This direct federal support for our fire departments ensures they have the resources they need to keep the public and themselves safe.
Windham Veterans Commissary Renamed to Honor Local Veteran
In Windham, the Eastern CT Veterans Community Center's commissary provides local veterans with basic need items such as groceries, clothing, and bedding. Last week, the commissary was officially renamed for Rob Slate, a pillar of eastern Connecticut's veteran community who passed away earlier this year. My Military and Veterans Representative Manny Meneses (USN. Ret.) joined the Slate family and Windham Chamber President Diane Nadeau at the ceremony for the "Rob Slate Veteran’s Commissary of Eastern CT”.
A native of Lebanon, CT, Rob served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1976. Upon returning to Connecticut, Rob committed himself to serving his community, particularly his fellow veterans. Rob founded the Windham Veterans Coffeehouse in 2010 and served as its longtime President. Rob's legacy will live on through eastern Connecticut's thriving grassroots support network for our large veteran population – exemplified in the services provided through this commissary, now in his name.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Tomorrow, December 7th, will mark 83 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack changed the course of our nation's history. A large part of that history defeating Japanese imperialism and Nazi fascism was real life contributions of eastern Connecticut's naval base and submarine industrial base.
On its anniversary, we remember the 2,403 servicemembers and civilians killed and those who bravely answered the call to serve in World War II in the years after.
Survey: Where Do You Get Your News?
I want to know more about how people in our community are learning about the things that matter to them. Please take a moment to fill out this media survey. All responses are confidential.
Meeting with a Great NATO Ally
On Thursday, I had a great meeting with the Estonian Foreign Affairs Committee member Representative Eerik-Niiles Kross and Chairman Marko Mihkelson. Estonia is a great ally to the United States and a highly committed member of NATO. The Baltic country spends 3.3% of its GDP on national defense – the highest in Europe.
Estonia shares a long land border with Russia, and during our meeting, we discussed the widespread aggression in the region amid Putin's brutal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine. Just recently, a Chinese cargo ship, under suspicion of working with Russia, appeared to sever undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea – leading to a temporary internet service reduction in Estonia’s fellow neighbor Lithuania.
Estonia is acutely aware of the threat Russia poses, and they are a strong participant in anti-submarine warfare because of Russian submarine activity in the Baltic Sea. Thank you to Representative Kross and Chairman Mihkelson for visiting my Washington Office and for Estonia’s great help to the United States Navy and NATO.
Thanks 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. Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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