State Rep. Zullo, State Sen. Cicarella Announce $1.5M State Grant for Overbrook Early Learning Center

From State Rep. Joe Zullo (R-East Haven) and State Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven):

EAST HAVEN, CT — State Rep. Joe Zullo (R-East Haven) and State Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) today announced and welcomed the approval of a $1.5 million dollar grant, through the State’s Community Investment Fund, for Phase One of the expansion and modernization of Overbrook Early Learning Center.

“Following months of vigorous advocacy, I am proud to announce and welcome this substantial grant for our Board of Education. The planned expansion and modernization of the Overbrook Early Center, which is relied upon by thousands of families and residents, will improve the center’s ability to provide young children with the safe, supportive learning environment they need during some of the most important years of their development. It will also help the district realize its goal of offering more comprehensive and integrative educational, support, and care services. We’re grateful to everyone who recognized the value of this project and worked to move it forward,” said East Haven Rep. Joe Zullo.

Senator Paul Cicarella said, “Bringing meaningful resources back to the communities I represent is always a priority. This $1.5 million investment will expand early learning opportunities and strengthen the services East Haven families depend on. I’m proud to have worked alongside Rep. Zullo and our local partners to move this project forward.” The funding, obtained through the State’s “Community Investment Fund,” will support the first phase of the early learning center’s strategic planned expansion, helping the center strengthen its facilities and continue providing high-quality early childhood care and education to East Haven families.

The Overbrook Early Learning Center presently provides not only wrap-around care and early childhood education services but also serves as a key hub for linking families with important nutritional, health, and recreational resources. The comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Overbrook Early Learning Center will create a multi-purpose community resource hub that will allow the Town to deploy a host of key educational, recreational, and public resource services more efficiently and meaningfully under one roof.

“We are grateful for this $1.5 million investment and the steadfast advocacy of Rep. Zullo, Sen. Cicarella and Minority Leader Candelora. We look forward to securing the remaining funds needed to complete this important expansion for East Haven’s children and families,” remarked Overbrook Supervisor Marissa Velazquez and East Haven Superintendent Adam Swinney.

Zullo and Cicarella also thanked House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora, who represents a portion of East Haven and serves on the Community Investment Fund board, for recognizing the importance of the project and supporting the funding request.

Cicarella added, “Rep. Zullo and I couldn’t be more grateful for Rep. Candelora’s advocacy for this project. He has been an unwavering advocate for not just our community, but specifically our early learning center and has been a key partner in securing this grant.”

Additional resources and programs that would be available under the proposed expansion of the Overbrook Early Leaning Center would include:

A. The creation of a new “youth and afterschool program zone,” for meaningful afterschool school programming for middle school students;

B. The creation of an “adult education and workforce suite,” to modernize and expand the functions of the town’s already-successful adult education program;

C. Expansion of “family resource spaces,” to accommodate larger playgroups and serve more residents;

D. The creation of a “health and wellness suite,” to create a dental space, small clinician offices, and an open reception space to better deploy needed health and wellness services in local populations with currently high unmet needs;

E. The construction of a “multi-purpose community room” equipped to host town meetings, health fairs, celebrations, and workshops, linking our public officials and public boards more closely to the people they serve and creating more meaningful access to the leaders.

Zullo concluded, “This project has the potential to be transformative for our community. For the past year, alongside Senator Cicarella and Minority Leader Candelora, I have collaborated with our Superintendent, the Mayor, the Board of Education’s business manager, and leadership at the early learning center to help advance this worthwhile initiative. This has been a team effort, and I look forward to continuing to work with all of these key stakeholders to bring additional funds to our district to keep this project advancing forward.”