Courtney Secures over $13 Million for 15 Local Projects Across Connecticut’s Second District

NORWICH, CT - This week, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass a government funding package (H.R. 7148) which includes over $9.6 million for 10 Community Projects in Connecticut's Second District. In January, the House and Senate passed over $2.6 million for four more Community Projects in the Second District. In November, the House and Senate passed $1 million for one Community Project in North Stonington. Funding for all 15 Community Projects have now been signed into law.

"In the 2026 federal budget process, my office and I worked alongside towns and non-profits in Connecticut's Second District to secure funding for 15 local projects across our region," Courtney said. "From public safety to new housing development, job training, and child care expansion, these projects are excellent examples of targeted federal funding coming back to eastern Connecticut that will have wide-reaching benefits for our towns."

Community projects are locally supported initiatives identified by Congressman Courtney, who pushed for funding for these projects across the district as part of the annual federal funding process in Congress.

FY 2026 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING INITIATIVES:

Rockville: Rehabilitation of Rockville Public Library Entrance Stairs:

• $1.2 million for the Town of Vernon to rehabilitate the entrance stairs at the Rockville Public Library, which was constructed in 1904. The current entrance stairs are in disrepair which creates a significant public safety risk. The rehabilitated stairs will make the library safer by reopening the south entrance and providing a safe egress through the front door.

Rockville: Remediation of Daniel's Mill:

• $250,000 for the Town of Vernon to remediate Daniel's Mill in the Rockville section of Vernon. The project will remediate hazardous substance and revitalize a blighted vacant property. The proposed development will add a combined total of 200 housing units, infusing economic vibrance to the downtown Rockville area.

Coventry: Upgrade of Police Department Dispatch and Body Camera Equipment:

• $446,000 for the Town of Coventry to upgrade the Coventry Police Department's radio and camera technology. The project will enable the Coventry Police Department to modernize outdated technology that impairs their ability to respond to and prevent crime, ensure the safety of officers, and be responsible and transparent to the community.

Mansfield: Phase II of Bike and Pedestrian Connection:

• $1.952 million for the Town of Mansfield to improve bicycle pedestrian safety and accessibility to the downtown center. The project will be Phase II of a larger effort to create bicycle and pedestrian connectivity on CT-195 (Storrs Road) between US[1]44 (Middle Turnpike) and Moulton Road.

Thompson: Reusing Blighted Property for Economic Development:

• $732,007 for the Town of Thompson to adaptively reuse the vacant and blighted town-owned structure at 65 Main Street and town-owned land at 35 Marshall Street, both in the Thompson village of North Grosvenordale. The redevelopment will provide for high school culinary education career training and house a municipally-supported small business support center with a focus on the agricultural sector.

Killingly: Upgrade the Town Water Pollution Control Facility:

• $1 million for the Town of Killingly to upgrade the existing Killington Water Pollution Control Facility, which serves both Killingly and the Town of Brooklyn. The existing facility is currently at its maximum treatment capacity, and as a result, the Town of Killingly cannot accept new sanitary sewer connections for industrial, commercial, or residential developments in Killingly and Brooklyn.

Hebron: Rehabilitation of Church Street Commons Housing:

• $250,000 for the Town of Hebron to be used for the construction of approximately 50 units of mixed-income housing. The Project will provide housing for individuals and families, including seniors, for young professionals, and for working parents who want to raise their children in a safe and connected community.

Colchester: Expansion of Affordable Housing at Country Place:

• $2 million for the Connecticut Department of Housing to acquire and rehabilitate 194 units of family housing, of which 146 are currently affordable, to make all 194 units dead-restricted affordable housing units at Country Place I & II.

Norwich: Replacement of the Public Dock at Howard Brown Park:

• $600,000 for the City of Norwich to repair the docks at Howard Brown Park, which recently surpassed their 30-year expected life span. While the City was successful in obtaining funding to replace a portion of the old docks, there is still a section adjacent to the boat launch that is becoming unstable, and in need of repair.

Montville/Preston: Rehabilitation of the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge:

• $1 million for the Connecticut Department of Transportation to rehabilitate the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge, which connects Montville and Preston over the Thames River.

Ledyard: Replacement of the Police and Fire Dispatch System:

• $229,000 for the Town of Ledyard to acquire an updated Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System (CAD/RMS) to enable the Ledyard Police Department to modernize outdated technology that impairs their ability to respond to and prevent crime.

North Stonington: Renovation and Restoration of the Wheeler Library:

• $1,000,000 for the Wheeler School & Library of North Stonington, Inc. to restore the Wheeler library, enabling one of the few public services in the community to continue operation for local residents, including through accessibility and resiliency upgrades to the historic building.

New London: Expansion of a Child Care Center:

• $850,000 for the City of New London to add new classrooms to the City's Early Childhood Center at B.P. Mission, providing more access to high-quality early childhood education for the children and families in the New London community.

Groton: Ocean-Based STEM Education

• $960,000 for education and research non-profit Project Oceanology to acquire a research vessel to support ocean-based STEM learning opportunities for K-12 and college-level students. The vessel will be used for research, restoration, and education in the Long Island Sound.

Pawcatuck: Transformation Of an Underused Property into a Community Park

• $850,000 for the Town of Stonington to transform an underutilized and overgrown property into a park with public access to water, ADA accessible walking paths, shade structures, fishing areas, public restrooms, and parking.