Appropriations funding requests target local projects

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected today to pass six appropriations bills that have been consolidated into one act, with millions in funding for local projects.

The House and Senate each passed versions of the bills earlier this year, and both sides agreed on the consolidated act in conference. After each chamber approves the final version, it will be sent to the president to be signed into law.

"I am pleased to have helped to secure these critical investments for eastern Connecticut," said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney in a statement. "This important and timely funding will help spur economic growth in support of many important organizations, programs and innovative initiatives throughout the region."

The local projects supported in the act are:

Griswold

$200,000 to American Legion Veterans Housing for Jewett City supportive housing for veterans; funding will be used to renovate the American Post 15 building and provide 18 single-unit dwellings for supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans.

Groton

$6.57 million to the Naval Submarine Base for a MK-48 torpedo magazine; funding will be used to build a new magazine to store torpedoes, a project that is being accelerated to improve the base's ability to support the Submarine Force.

$200,000 to the University of Connecticut for the Avery Point Business Incubator; funding will be used to expand the space and activities of the UConn Technology Incubator facility at Avery Point to offer critical early support to more technology-oriented small business start-ups.

Mystic

$300,000 to the Sea Research Foundation for the Immersion Presents After School Program; funding will support the after-school program, which offers quality academic programs in science and technology for at-risk youth.

$500,000 to the Mystic Seaport for the Educational Innovation Project; funding will be used to develop technology-based educational programs to make museum content more readily available to educators, students and parents.

Norwich

$85,000 to the City of Norwich for the Norwich Young Parents Program; funding will be used to provide case-managed care and support services to adolescent mothers, fathers and their children.

$194,800 to the Southeastern Connecticut Housing Alliance for the Affordable Housing Planning and Technical Assistance program; funding will be used to offer workshops and technical assistance to towns on regulations, financing and economic development incentives.

Salem

$500,000 to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for safety improvements to the Salem and Montville Route 82/Route 85 corridor; funding will be used for the preliminary design and engineering of improvements to the Route 82/Route 85 corridor to help relieve the congestion and associated accident problems.

Regional

$9 million to the Connecticut Air National Guard to upgrade facilities at Bradley Airport; funding will be used to build the facilities needed to support the 103rd Airlift Wing's Component Numbered Air Force Air Operations Command Center.

$225,000 to the Community Health Centers of Connecticut for a Residency Training Program for Nurse Practitioners/Primary Care Providers; funding will be used to expand the successful two-year pilot Nurse Practitioner Program.