April 4, 2006

SEN. LEBEAU, REPS. CHRIST, STONE AND GENGA WELCOME COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF $51 MILLION FOR EAST HARTFORD BONDING

HARTFORD – The East Hartford legislative delegation of state Sen. Gary D. LeBeau and Reps. Michael A. Christ, Henry Genga and Christopher R. Stone today announced that the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee approved a Fiscal Year 2007 legislative bonding package includes $51 million for two East Hartford projects: $45 million for infrastructure and avian mitigation at Rentschler Field, and $6 million for expansion or relocation at Goodwin College.

The package will now be considered by the General Assembly.

“For weeks I have been arguing that an investment in Rentschler Field is an investment in Connecticut’s economy, and I’m proud to say that the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee agreed. This is the biggest single piece of bonding that has ever come to East Hartford,” said Sen. LeBeau, who is co-chairman of the Commerce Committee as well as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. “Not only is this great for economic development, but it sends a signal to Cabela’s and other potential businesses and industries to let them know that roads will be built and that the Rentschler Field project is moving ahead very strongly. And Goodwin College is a winner too in that it can use this money to leverage other dollars and begin its campus relocation and construction.”

“These are great economic development projects,” said Rep. Christ, who is also a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. “We should move forward with these types of initiatives. They benefit not only East Hartford and the region, but the state of Connecticut. Goodwin College will directly address labor shortages in critical areas such as nursing, and the development of Rentschler field will produce the type of high-end technology jobs that effectively grow an economy.”

“This is a very important first step in the process of helping East Hartford and the region grow to its full economic potential,” Rep. Genga said. “Rentschler Field will help create jobs and eventually help reduce property taxes. And as an educator, I’m delighted that Goodwin College will be able to provide more educational opportunities than ever before, and meet current shortages in the workforce, such as nursing. I hope the legislature sees this as a priority for East Hartford and the state.”

“This is a great day for East Hartford, as this project will contribute to an economic engine not only for the immediate area, but for the State of Connecticut as well,” said Rep. Stone.