Middletown Delegation Welcomes $1.8M for City Projects

Today, State Senators Matt Lesser and Jan Hochadel and State Representatives Brandon Chafee and Kai Belton welcomed over $1.8 million to Middletown. The State Bond Commission voted to approve $350,000 for the City of Middletown to purchase and install a modular fire training building, and $1,472,736 for marina construction through the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP).

The City of Middletown applied for the SHIPP grant in order to replace the current aging harbor Emergency Response Dock. The dock has been damaged by years of flooding and seasonal ice flow, and the demand for dock space has increased in recent years, due in part to increased economic development in the area and recreational boaters on the Connecticut River.

“Last year, the Middletown delegation secured funding for the fire training facility as part of the state budget process. I am happy to see these funds be made available to the City to improve public safety. We know that affordability is first of mind, and that improved fire protection is associated with lower insurance costs for City residents. Separately, funding and moving the public safety dock is important for the general public on the Connecticut River as well as an important economic development step as part of our long term riverfront redevelopment efforts. I was happy to work closely with the City and the Governor’s office to secure these funds. Together these grants offer critical improvements to Middletown” said Sen. Lesser. “I am grateful to the Bond Commission for approving these funds and I look forward to continued collaboration to support our city.”

“New firefighter training facilities will help keep families safer, while the marina will boost the region’s economic development,” Sen. Hochadel said. “These are real investments that improve the quality of life for Middletown and the surrounding communities. I’m grateful to the State Bond Commission for recognizing the value of these projects and for their commitment to enhancing life in our region.”

“The current Harbor Emergency Response Dock has aged and has taken on considerable damage over the years due to seasonal ice flows and flooding events,” Rep. Belton said. “This funding will go toward replacing and relocating the dock, which all local, state, and federal agencies can use. The public recreation dock will see improvements as well. I couldn’t be more pleased that a modular fire training building is headed our way, too. I want to thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for recognizing Middletown and its need for this funding.”

“I would like to thank Governor Lamont and the bond commission for approving funding for a new fire training facility and construction of a new public safety dock in Middletown. The fire training facility will help ensure our firefighters are properly trained and keep homeowner insurance rates down. The public safety dock will provide crucial access to the river for first responders and is a key component and first step to redevelopment efforts along the riverfront,” said Rep. Chafee.

“The funding made available by the State of Connecticut to replace Middletown’s public safety dock and create a regional fire training school is a gratifying recognition of the outstanding leading role that Middletown’s public safety agencies play in our state. I am thankful for the support of Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, Senator Lesser, and our entire legislative delegation for their support of these critical local priorities, and look forward to working with the agencies involved to bring these projects to life in the months and years ahead,” said Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim.