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- State to award Winsted Health Center with $1.6 million for housing, job training
WINSTED – The state is expected to take a significant step on Tuesday toward awarding the Winsted Health Center $1.6 million for the restoration and repurposing of the medical facility at 115 Spencer St. The funding, which comes through the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), is on the agenda of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) board. The board and the governor’s office reviews applications and project summaries prepared by the DECD and makes recommendations to the state bond commission, which approves grants for projects. Sen. Stephen G. Harding Jr., R-Brookfield and Rep. Jay M. Case, R-Winsted, announced the funding on Monday. “This is fantastic news for our region,” Harding said in a statement. “We thank the governor and the DECD for supporting this very worthy project which aims to address high housing costs as well as gaps in local employment training.” The plan is to turn the 12-acre campus into a mixed-use housing and job skills training development, mainly for veterans. “Providing the men and women who have honorably served our country with veteran-focused affordable housing and additional workforce training space is crucial,” Case said in a statement. “This investment addresses housing shortages and will provide resources to get more veterans integrated within our state’s workforce.” Winsted Health Center Executive Director Kris Griffin said that the $1.6 million “will enable us to complete our required pre-construction items to then allow us to return to CIF to present a ‘shovel-ready’ project for construction financing.” Besides providing vocational training for high-demand manufacturing job skills, the project will also support entrepreneurial endeavors and provide underserved community members, especially veterans transitioning from active duty, by offering customized in-class workshops and hands-on training in Connecticut’s aerospace, defense, medical and automation industries. As originally reported in the Republican American: https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2024/09/23/state-to-award-winsted-health-center-with-1-6-million-for-housing-job-training/
- Larson, Blumenthal Announce $1 Million for Veterans’ Affordable Housing and Services in Winsted
Winchester, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Senator Richard Blumenthal announced $1 million in federal funding for the Winsted Health Center to support the construction of affordable housing and a live, work, and wellness space for veterans. “Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable housing, yet far too often, our veterans return from service and struggle to secure employment and housing,” said Larson. “It was my honor to work to secure funding in Congress to support the needs of Northwestern Connecticut’s veterans, from housing to job training and medical care. I want to thank Kris Griffin and her team at the Winsted Health Center, alongside the countless community advocates involved in this project, for their bold vision for the future of this site.” “This $1 million will enable our heroes to have housing, skill training and other services they deserve and need. There’s no better venue than the Winsted Health Center to be the centerpiece for this bold, transformative program,” said Blumenthal. “What a wonderful affirmation and pledge of support from Congressman Larson for our anticipated one- of-a-kind campus where folks can learn new job skills, start their own businesses, and find safe and affordable places to live,” said Winsted Health Center Executive Director Kris Griffin. “Congressman Larson and his staff have been extremely helpful to us over the years, and we know this investment of federal dollars he championed for us will yield many returns for many in Winsted and beyond! We are very grateful to him.” Rep. Larson secured this funding in Congress through the bipartisan Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 , signed into law by President Biden on March 9th. The project will provide a total of 40 stable, affordable housing units for veterans in Litchfield County and an on-site veterans clinic, medical offices, and job training space.