Kara Rochelle

State Representative Kara Rochelle (D – Ansonia, Derby) and State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D – Hamden) applaud the approval of $6.5 million in state funds through  Connecticut's Community Investment Fund 2030 (CIF) to repair an access bridge at the former Ansonia Copper & Brass industrial complex, 75 Liberty St, providing easier access to the site from the Naugatuck River. This is one of several hurdles the application must clear before funding is released.

The CIF was established in the 2021 biennial state budget that Rep. Rochelle and Sen. Cabrera supported to create new economic development opportunities in underserved communities. Over the next five years, CIF will provide a total of up to $875 million to support small businesses, education, housing, and infrastructure projects in eligible municipalities as well as community development corporations and nonprofits that serve these communities. Each year, the CIF board may approve up to $175 million.

The CIF board met on Tuesday to approve applications totaling $76,477,835. The approved applications now go to Governor Ned Lamont, who will analyze each application and determine how it will be funded. For projects that the Governor recommends allocating bond funds for, the State Bond Commission will have two months to hold a meeting to vote on releasing funds for the selected projects.

The application process for the first round of CIF funding opened in late May 2022 and closed in July 2022. Municipalities eligible for funding must be designated in state law as Public Investment Communities or Alliance Districts. Out of Connecticut's 169 cities and towns, 54 towns can receive funding through CIF. The cities of Ansonia and Derby are both designated as Public Investment Communities and Alliance Districts.

"I'm proud to have supported the creation of this new fund, which is critical for economic redevelopment in Ansonia, Derby, and communities like ours across the state. This was a team effort and I am grateful to have worked alongside a fantastic group of individuals to make this happen. Thank you to Sen. Cabrera, House Speaker Matt Ritter, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, and members of the legislature's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus for being partners in the push to ensure that our communities have more opportunities to compete for transformational funds. I would also like to thank the city of Ansonia for submitting an application for funds, as well as for hiring an excellent team including Peter Burns, Ron Nault, and Paula Kusmit with Luchs Consulting Engineers/DeCarlo and Doll, Inc. to generate the bulk of the documents needed for the application. I would also like to thank Sheila O'Malley for coordinating all of our documents and submitting them," said Rep. Rochelle.

"I am grateful to all those involved in this process and the Board for approving these funds as they'll greatly benefit residents in and around Ansonia," said Sen. Cabrera. "This bridge replacement project unlocks the potential for many development opportunities in the area. This is a great usage of this funding and represents another win for the people of Ansonia."

Rep. Rochelle and Sen. Cabrera advocated fiercely for the application's inclusion and CIF approval and are strongly lobbying for approval by the State Bond Commission. The $6.5 million award will build upon funding that Rep. Rochelle and Sen. Cabrera previously secured over the past two years to remediate the Ansonia Copper and Brass complex and the adjacent SHW/Farrel building site:

• $500,000 in state funds in 2020 for the environmental clean-up and demolition of the SHW/Farrel site;
• $1,000,000 in state funds in 2021 for the environmental clean-up of the SHW/Farrel site;
• $2,000,000 in state funds in 2021 for the strategic future redevelopment of the 175,000-square-foot Ansonia Copper and Brass extrusion mill;
• $200,000 in state funds in 2022 for an anticipated additional assessment and planning after the SHW/Farrel building is demolished.
• $2,900,000 that U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro secured in July 2022 to aid the demolition of the SHW/Farrel building

"I would like to express my gratitude to the CIF board for selecting Ansonia's application to move on to the next step of the approval process and for seeing our vision for revitalization in the Lower Valley. We're making real substantive moves to redevelop our region and I urge the State Bond Commission to deliver final approval so we can bring these funds home to our community. This is another major step to move the Valley forward and attract developers, ultimately bringing in more jobs, expanding our grand list, and providing an opportunity for our local municipality to lower taxes and enhance services for residents. I am proud to be part of this effort to deliver big wins for our community," said Rep. Rochelle.

The two properties make up a majority of the 100+ acres of developable space, representing a monumental opportunity to achieve significant economic growth and revitalization for the region.

The parcel of land is located in the heart of downtown Ansonia and is within walking distance of the Ansonia station of the Waterbury Rail Line. In July, the line realized increased service as a result of a $1.2 million state investment which Rep. Rochelle ardently fought for during her first term, and the governor included in his January 2021 budget proposal. A new modernized train station for Ansonia is currently in the design phase with funds already approved by the state Department of Transportation. The design work is anticipated to be completed this December.

After decades of economic struggle, there has been an explosion of state and federal investment in the Lower Valley in the past two to four years. The CIF fund and the $6.5 million award will build upon these efforts.