Kara Rochelle

Just moments ago, the State Bonding Commission approved my and State Senator Jorge Cabrera's request of $2 million to renovate a 175,000-square-foot building within the Ansonia Brass complex for economic redevelopment. This a great victory for our community that will create jobs and ready the site for developers.

I’m happy to share that I and State Senator Jorge Cabrera just got $2 million in state funds added to the Governor’s bond agenda to renovate a 175,000-square-foot building within the Ansonia Brass complex for economic redevelopment.

This session, we passed a budget cutting taxes for the middle class and working class, increasing funding for our cities, towns, and schools to historic levels, investing in social services after years of cuts, and helping small businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic.

Valley Save Our Youth of Ansonia and Team, Inc. in Derby will be receiving a combined total of $250,000 in state funding over the next two years! These funds, which I and Senator Jorge Cabrera secured, are authorized under the biennial state budget we passed earlier this month. Funds will be used to support youth development, preventing youth violence and expanding local youth programming, as part of a wider state initiative.

As we approach the end of our 2021 Regular Legislative Session, I couldn’t be prouder of the work we have been able to accomplish as we all learned new and unprecedented ways to stay connected with each of you. This session, we passed a $46.4 billion biennium budget with a $2.3 billion surplus that is strong on taxes, offers relief from the ravages of COVID-19, helps jumpstart our economy, and invests in our cities and towns, nonprofits and working families.

Need help getting your COVID-19 vaccine? I have worked with Griffin Hospital and community partners to schedule 3 walk-up vaccination clinics in our community.

Thursday, Derby was reported to have the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the state and reported a per capita rate of 48.5. Ansonia's per capita rate was 41.2.

If you are over the age of 45, you can start scheduling your COVID-19 vaccine appointments now! We are making real progress in our state and are getting closer to putting COVID-19 behind us.