VERNON, CT — A desperate renovation project for both the Cornerstone Foundation kitchen and shelter in Vernon is in line for federal dollars.
U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, this week, announced the inclusion of $76.6 million for Connecticut Congressionally Directed Spending projects in the five Appropriations bills that have been passed by the Committee. Cornerstone is on the list.
The Committee plans to continue marking up bills this week, the senators said.
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Murphy is a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
“We need a lot done and this will help a lot if approved,” Cornerstone Programs and Operations Director Alexis Flint said.
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Committee passage is the first step in the process, and funding will only be made available when the bill is passed by Congress and signed into law. Murphy and Blumenthal said the are “committed to pushing for passage and ensuring Connecticut priorities are reflected in the final spending package.”
Connecticut projects, totaling $40.268 million, in the Committee-passed Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill include $1.51 million for Cornerstone for facility renovations at the community kitchen and shelter.
Cornerstone Executive Director Sharon Redfern said a June fire started by an aging bathroom fan highlighted the need for renovations to the shelter. In addition to fixtures, a new roof, new gutters and a new kitchen is needed.
“We need to refurbish,” she said. “Things are very old in old buildings and out hope is to renovate and make things more energy efficient.”
The federal grant would supplement a capital campaign for new kitchen facilities, Redfern said.
Murphy said, “These bills are full of big wins for Connecticut, including more than $76 million for community-based projects that will help create good-paying jobs, upgrade aging infrastructure and public utilities, expand affordable housing and transportation, and ensure our towns and local organizations have the necessary resources to do what they do best – serve our community. These investments are the result of thousands of conversations I’ve had with people across Connecticut, and I’m proud to have worked with Senator Blumenthal to ensure their inclusion in the budget. I’ll continue working hard to make sure these bills make it to the president’s desk so these federal dollars can make a real difference in our state.”
Said Blumenthal, “These high-impact projects address our state’s most critical needs – ranging from environmental preservation to violence prevention to affordable housing construction. The Committee’s support of more than $76 million for Connecticut is a significant step toward ensuring that these transformative projects move forward. I will keep fighting, alongside Senator Murphy, to deliver these invaluable investments to communities all across our state.”
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