Bonding for Torrington Aquaponics Farm Approved

February 16, 2018

I'm pleased to share that the state Bond Commission has approved a $1 million loan to local nonprofit New Opportunities Inc. for machinery and equipment to establish an aquaponics fish farm and hydroponic vegetable farm in Torrington. As part of the loan agreement, New Opportunities will create 18 jobs over the next three years.

I have worked with New Opportunities to secure this bonding for several years, and now they have the capital they need to move forward with a project that benefits our entire community. The farm will create jobs, provide workers training in a hi-tech field, and give residents more access to fresh, local produce. This project is on the cutting edge of technology – farming today is so much more than the image we have of Old MacDonald’s farm. This is an investment to train workers in a growing industry.

Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish.