March 7, 2014
State Representatives Kevin Ryan (D-Bozrah, Montville, Norwich) and Emmett Riley (D-Norwich) joined State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Norwich) and announced today that Reliance House and United Community and Family Services will receive funding through Connecticut’s Nonprofit grant program to make renovations, purchase a generator and secure other improvements.
Reliance House will receive $58,550 for renovations to its Smith Avenue facility, and United Community and Family Services will receive $100,000 for a new generator.
Today’s announcement comes a day after Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that 146 projects statewide had been selected to receive a total of $20 million in awards as part of the state’s Nonprofit Grant Program.
“These groups provide critically important services to Norwich and the surrounding community,” said Rep. Ryan. “This funding will help the organizations make necessary improvements to better meet the needs of individuals in Norwich and the surrounding area.”
“I’m thrilled that these two nonprofit groups will be getting the funding they need to continue their service to our community,” said Rep. Riley.
“I’m very glad to see Reliance House getting the funds they deserve to maintain mental health services in Norwich, and United Community and Family Services always does a tremendous job of providing medical and dental care for people who cannot afford it,” Sen. Osten said. “These are truly two valuable assets for the people of Norwich.”
“We’re happy,” said Reliance House Chief Executive Officer David Burnett. “Financing has been very challenging in the nonprofit sector. We have lost ground to inflation in 18 of the past 22 years. The state, to its credit, has done these bond initiatives.”
“Along with Connecticut’s nonprofit community, we are very appreciative of the opportunity to access capital funding through the nonprofit bonding that the governor and legislators have approved,” said Chuck Seeman, President and CEO of UCFS. “Many nonprofits do not have the ability to generate the funding from operations to meet the many capital needs we all have, so this opportunity is extremely important to allow us to improve our infrastructure. We were successful in receiving $100,000 to purchase a generator for our retirement residence in Norwich. This will allow us to provide heat and light for a senior population in the event of the loss of power. I want to thank the governor, his administration and the legislators from Southeastern Connecticut who supported this funding.”
“Partnering with these organizations is a smart fiscal investment to ensure that these agencies can continue to provide services while doing so in an efficient, cost-effective way,” said Governor Malloy. “This is the largest commitment our state has made to support and invest in these community-based organizations that provide critical services to individuals in every city and town in our state.”
Under Section 13 of Public Act 13-239, adopted by Democrats last June, the purpose of the Nonprofit Grant Program is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, safety and/or accessibility of health and human services being delivered by nonprofit organizations. The program was designed to invest in nonprofit providers that have contracts or agreements with state agencies.
Reliance House Inc. is a non-profit organization whose main office is located at 40 Broadway in Norwich. The organization recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary of providing community-based, person-centered mental health services and has evolved from a single staffed drop-in model to an extensive system of care designed to assist individuals in realizing their dreams. Reliance House serves approximately 600 individuals each year and employs approximately 200 individuals
For more than 130 years, United Community & Family Services has been providing healthcare and community services to Norwich and the surrounding areas. In an effort to provide a wide range of programs and services that respond to the ever-growing health and human service needs of those living and working in our region, UCFS provides Outpatient Primary Medical Care, Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, Community Based Behavioral Health Services, Women’s Health Services, Dental Services, Community Health Services and Eldercare Services.