DeLauro Celebrates House Passage of $1 Million in Community Project Funding for R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park

DeLauro, Florsheim Toured the Former Industrial Building and Discussed Impact Federal Funds Could Have on Middletown

Image

MIDDLETOWN, CT —House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today joined Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Alexandra Baum, Middletown Director of Economic and Community Development Joseph Samolis, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh, and R.M. Keating tenants, ID Parcel & Mail Solutions President and CEO Jerry Fenerty, Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company Co-Owner Shane Centini, and Fidelux Lighting President Sindhu Natarajan, to celebrate the House passage of $1 million in Community Project Funding to modernize building infrastructure at R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park.

The modernization of this former industrial building will not only add to the revitalization of the North End and bring jobs to the area but will turn unusable empty space into new, leasable space for non-profit and small businesses, entrepreneurial support programs, as well as community spaces for events and programming. The building is also located along, and will be incorporated into, a future walking trail along the Coginchaug and Mattabassett Rivers.

"As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud that last week we passed a spending package that invests in working families and helps so many towns in Connecticut," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "Included in this transformational government funding bill is $1 million in Community Project Funding, the full amount requested by the City of Middletown, to revitalize and modernize the R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park. This funding would provide an opportunity that will likely result in new employment and economic benefits for our communities as businesses move into these newly renovated spaces. That is why you can be sure I will be fighting for this when we come together with the Senate on the final 2022 spending bills."

Last week, Chair DeLauro led House Democrats in passing a package of seven government spending bills with funding for community projects nationwide including this $1 million for R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park.

DeLauro's floor remarks on the seven-bill 2022 spending package are here. A summary of the bill is here.

Image