Millions Coming to Redevelop Downtown Waterbury

April 17, 2025


 

The state is making a huge investment to transform the 75th District! I'll break down how new funding will make a huge difference downtown and in a nearby neighborhood!

There is a new idea on the table to improve early child care in Waterbury and across the state. Please keep scrolling to learn about the groundbreaking plan to expand preschool access!

I am proud to support several bills addressing our growing waste crisis. I'll dig deeper into a couple of legislative strategies to protect our environment.
 
Below, you will find the following sections:

  • $9.3 Million to Redevelop Waterbury
  • Proposal to Expand Early Child Care
  • Addressing Our Waste Crisis
  • Unaffordable Utility Costs are a Problem
 

$9.3 Million to Redevelop Waterbury

The State Bond Commission has approved $9.3 million in funding to help transform the 75th District, including downtown Waterbury and a nearby neighborhood. This includes $5.3 million to support environmental cleanup at the former Anamet property and $4 million to revitalize the West Main Street corridor.

The $5.3 million investment has been allocated to the Waterbury Development Corporation for the cleanup of the former Anamet brass manufacturing site at 698 Main Street, located near the Naugatuck River. This marks a major step forward in the city’s efforts to reclaim and repurpose long-abandoned industrial spaces.

Additionally, $4 million will breathe new life into downtown Waterbury through significant improvements to sidewalks, lighting, and roadways -- creating a safer, more vibrant, and accessible space for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. It also addresses long-overdue upgrades to infrastructure dating back over a century, laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth.

In conjunction with federal RAISE grant funding, this effort will support critical upgrades to approximately 4,440 linear feet of both surface and underground infrastructure, including water lines, sanitary system, and storm drainage. These much-needed enhancements will make one of the most active corridors more welcoming and business-ready.

Thank you to Governor Ned Lamont, House Speaker Matt Ritter, and Mayor Paul Pernerewski for their strong support of Waterbury. I deeply appreciate their leadership and commitment to strengthening communities like ours. I look forward to the positive and lasting impact these investments will bring in the future.
 

Proposal to Expand Early Child Care

My colleagues and I in the House, Senate, and Governor's Office are working collaboratively to advance legislation that strengthens early childhood care across the state. Our goal is to make high-quality child care more accessible and affordable for our children while allowing parents to return to the workforce.

The governor has proposed the largest expansion of preschool access in state history by depositing a portion of the state’s anticipated surpluses over the next several years into a brand-new fund known as the Universal Preschool Endowment.

Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Commissioner of Early Childhood Beth Bye visited Slocum Child Care Center in Waterbury to discuss the plan. It aims to expand affordable preschool options for families by:

  • Making preschool available at no cost to families earning up to $100,000 per year
  • Limiting the cost-share for families earning between $100,000 per year and $150,000 per year to a maximum of $20 per day
  • Creating 20,000 new preschool spaces by 2032
  • Reducing the cost to families for approximately 19,000 preschool spaces
  • Being simple, easy to access, and flexible to meet family needs

We are also working on passing House Priority Bill 5003, which I co-sponsored, to expedite funding for families, attract and retain childcare educators, and enhance both new and existing childcare facilities. The entire legislature is working collaboratively to ensure this priority is addressed before the end of the session on June 4.
 

Addressing Our Waste Crisis

I was proud to stand along my colleagues and environmental advocates to highlight our efforts to address the waste crisis. We are trying to pass bills that offer environmentally responsible and fiscally sound solutions to a challenge that is rapidly becoming more expensive and unsustainable.

I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 6917, which provides funding for critical recycling education and enforcement. It also creates a food donation program to redirect surplus food to communities in need, such as Waterbury, an Environmental Justice community where too many families face food insecurity.

House Bill 6229 targets the source of the problem by reducing the production of single-use plastics and polystyrene products, such as Styrofoam cups and food containers, materials that clog our waste stream and pollute our environment.

Connecticut generates more waste than we can process resulting in trucking it out of state and driving up the cost of waste removal. Experts warn Connecticut could spend $4.8 billion annually by 2050 while causing harm to our planet.

We cannot afford to ignore this issue. It’s time to invest in sustainable waste reduction strategies that protect public health and our environment while easing the financial burden on working families.
 

Unaffordable Utility Costs are a Problem

I voted against the reappointment of Marissa Gillett as Chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). While I respect her public service, I cannot support leadership that has failed to deliver real relief for ratepayers, especially in communities like mine.

Too many families in the 75th District are making difficult choices between heating their homes, keeping the lights on, or putting food on the table. Under the current leadership of PURA, utility costs remain unaffordable for many working families, and rates continue to rise.
Current leadership at PURA has not lowered utility prices.

Ratepayers are looking for solutions. Until we see a real shift toward affordability and accountability, I would like to see PURA’s leadership going in a different direction.